20 March 2009 by Published in: General musings 6 comments

Several months ago, I posted an article that I had written about an interesting chap named David F. Day, who was awarded a Medal of Honor for participating in Grant’s “forlorn hope” attacks at Vicksburg in May 1863.

A reader named Dan Glasgow sent me an e-mail last night that I thought I would share with you:

I truly enjoyed your narative about David Frakes Day and his Metal of Honor. I knew his sons, Guy and George and how David started calling himseld Col. Day. His son said that his father was kicked by a mule when he was young and it left a scar on his cheek. Soon David started saying that the scar was from a saber cut received during the Civil War and then he promoted the story that he was a promote to col. I’ve read your narative and enjoyed it very much. At one time I thought Day’s story would have made a great movie but today it wouldn’t have enough sex appeal. Thanks for your efforts.

What a great story….and so like David Day. ๐Ÿ™‚

Day’s son was evidently a chip off the old block. From the April 25, 1922 edition of the New York Times:

Editor Kills Editor on Durango (Col.) Street: Scandal Story After Row Over Dry Law

Durango, Co., April 24.–William L. Wood, city editor of The Durango Herald, was shot dead on the street this afternoon by Rod S. Day, editor of The Durango Democrat, as the result of a squabble that started over prohibition and reached a climax in the printing of a scandal.

Wood some time ago printed an article on prohibition clipped from an outside paper, and asked the attitude of The Democrat on enforcement of the Volstead Act. Day replied that he favored enforcement. Wood then reported that The Democrat should stamp out the bootlegging in Durango. With each article the feeling grew until several days ago when Day printed something about Woods’ life and divorce.

Today the two met in front of a barber shop and after an exchange of words Day struck Wood with a carpenter’s square he held in his hand. Wood dodged the square and landed a blow on Day’s nose, breaking it. Wood then backed off the sidewalk, but Day drew a pistol and shot him twice, one bullet entering the brain.

Wood died in a hospital without gaining consciousness. Day was put under arrest and will be charged with first degree murder. Eyewitnesses say Wood tried to avoid the meeting with Day today, but as they came to a corner of the street, they almost bumped into each other. Day refuses to talk.

Wood was about 35 years old. Day, who is about 47, is a son of David F. Day, a pioneer editor of the State. He became editor of The Democrat in 1914, upon the death of his father.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I have been unable to ascertain whether Rod Day was convicted of the crime.

I continue to be fascinated by Dave Day and his interesting family. Thanks for coming forward, Dan.

Scridb filter

Comments

  1. Dan
    Fri 20th Mar 2009 at 8:42 pm

    Wow.
    What a wild story.
    Now, Eric… can we track down what happened to Champ Ferguson’s kids to prove your theory that the “apple doesn’t fall from the tree”?
    Very nice of the fellow to write in!
    Thank you!
    Daniel

  2. Teej Smith
    Sat 21st Mar 2009 at 12:30 am

    Eric,

    Apparently, Rod found his very own Johnny Cochrane to defend him. His attorney convinced a jury Woods was the aggressor, who had told everyone he would get Day sooner or later. Moreover, Day was minding his own business when Wood jumped him so his client had no choice but to shoot his attacker. The jury voted to acquit on the grounds of self-defense. Obviously, Durango’s prosecutor was no Jack McCoy. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Regards,
    Teej

  3. Alice Tulley Lively
    Thu 11th Nov 2010 at 1:54 am

    David Frakes Day was my great-grandfather. His grandson, David Henry Tulley, mentioned in the original article, was my father. Grandpa Day’s medal was passed down to him and my brother now holds it. I grew up hearing wonderful stories about Grandpa and Grandma Day. I visited their old home in Durango several years ago. Their daughter, Lenore, married Thomas Henry Tulley, my paternal grandfather.
    There is a wonderful chapter in Pioneers of the San Juan Country by Sarah Platt Decker Chapter of the DAR titled Life Story of Victoria Sophia Folck Day. She was more than a match for Dave Day! Especially in the self- aggrandizing department. They were truly novel characters. I also remember meeting Uncle Guy and Uncle Vest, two of Dave Day’s sons when visiting Durango with my parents in 1958. I don’t remember Uncle Rod. Uncle Vest writes in a family history that after the Daily Democrat was sold and during the depression, Rod worked for the US government in connection with the CCC camps located in La Plata county and other parts of Colorado. He passed away while working for the government.

  4. Erin Smith
    Sat 17th Sep 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Thomas K. Tully (aka Tulley) was my grandfather. He married Helen Ross and had my mother, Nona Jean (Lenore) Tully Smith. I am interested in any family history available. Please feel free to share any information and contact me at mrandmrsskidoo@msn.com . Thank you!

  5. Merideth Turner
    Tue 01st Nov 2011 at 3:34 am

    David Day is my great great grandfather on my fathers side. My cousin Jim has his Congressional Medal of Honor. I enjoy reading stories about him!

  6. David Kendricki
    Fri 03rd Feb 2017 at 12:07 pm

    Stumbled onto your site, while gathering more information on David Frakes Day, my Great Great Grandfather. Fun seeing comments from other relatives of David Day. I am very proud to be a direct descendent from David Day, he was a true American hero, and a movie should have been done on his life…
    My great grandmother was May (Mazie) Kirkbride Day, and was the first wife of Stanley Anderson Day, David Day’s oldest son.
    I have some family photos of them from the late 1800’s, and they were some stern faced people back then!
    I have also read a couple of good books about David Day’s life.
    Thank you for doing the research on David Day’s life, and keep up the good work. I see you have written a lot about the civil war, it looks like I have a lot of good reading ahead of me!

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