The Lead Belt News, Flat River, MO., Friday, Sept. 10, 1943. PRESS MERRITT INJURED IN FALL FROM TRUCK. Press Merritt of DeLassus, who was seriously injured two weeks ago when he fell from a truck while loading hay on the Ray Larkin farm near Esther, is in Bonne Terre Hospital. He is suffering from a skull fracture and internal injuries and will probably be confined to the hospital for several weeks.