DELTA MAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER PORTION OF WALL FALLS ON HIM

DELTA - A Delta man escaped serious injury Sunday after a portion of the east wall of the former Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Delta collapsed, burying him in the rubble for nearly one hour.

A Southeast Missouri Hospital spokesman said Roger Moore, 29, was in fair condition Monday with a broken leg, dislocated arm and other injuries.

Moore was a Republican primary candidate for Cape Girardeau County coroner who withdrew from the race this year.

Delta City Marshal Charles Lawson said the accident occurred about 8 p.m. Lawson said Moore was in the process of demolishing the front portion of the building.

"About one-third of the old chapel and a part of the roof had already been torn down by wreckers," said Lawson. "Mr. Moore was apparently doing some work by himself when part of the wall collapsed on top of him."

Lawson said it took about one hour for Delta residents to free Moore.

He said Moore had remodeled a part of the two-story building into living quarters as his residence.

Cliff Ford said the building was purchased by Ford and Sons from Delta First Baptist Church in the late 1970s. It was operated as a funeral home until mid-1991. Moore, who is employed by Ford and Sons, purchased the building last year.