Congressman Bell (1903-1905)

Another tidbit we stumbled on recently was the death of Congressman Theodore A. Bell. Bell’s biography on the Bioguide website notes that “was accidentally killed near San Rafael, Marin County, Calif., September 4, 1922”. Far too interesting to pass up.

A quick search revealed that Bell had died when the vehicle he was driving near San Rafael left the road and rolled down a 40-foot embankment. According to an article in the Prescott Evening Courier, Bell was being driven from a gun club near Ross to the train station in San Rafael when the driver of the car (Lucio Mintzer) slowed and pulled onto the shoulder to allow another vehicle to pass. The car went over the edge of the embankment and rolled, landing on top of Mr. Bell. He died instantly.