Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-30
Proc0cious Suicide.

III inc Oenter IOlnC LOUIS OF laSt
week we find the subjoined particu-
lars Of a most remarkable case of
suicide. 1t seems almost incredible
that mere child Of nine years, up
on whom it would naturally be sup
posed that the cares of life would
sit lightly, and whose sorrows would
be as evanescent as the shadows of
the passing hour, would deliberately
plan and carry out deed Of self
murder. 1t is startling incident
in the suicidal era which seems to
prevail all over the land, and it is
not impossible had its melting
cause in a too familiar acquaintance
with the record of crime, and death
by violence, which made up large
share of the contents of the newspa-
pers Of the dsy. The Lotus says:
About three months ago Mrs.
John Postle, living a few miles
southeast of this place, in Otter
Greek township, died very suddenly,
leaving a husband and two daugh-
ters to mourn her premature death.
The younger daughter, who was
only little upwards Of nine years
old, took the death Of her mother to
heart, and refused to be comforted.
She was continually talking about
her, and fretting because she conld
not see her.
Last Thursday she seemed more
sorrowful than usual, and several
times wished she was dead and bur-
ried beside her mother. Her older
sister endeavored to soothe her, tell
ing her that her mother was in hea-
ven, and that when she died she
would go to her.
Towards evening her sister told
her to set the table, which she did,
and while doing SO remarked that
she would not put on plate for
herself as she did not think she
would need it. No Importance was
attached to this remark, the older
sister thinking that perhaps she was
merely indisposed, and would not
eat on that account. Soon after the
little girl left the house, saying that
if she did not return right away
they need not feel uneasy about
her. Still the elder sister had no
suspicion of her intention, and
nothing more was thought of her
absence until about dusk, when her
sister become alarmed, and repeat
eddy called the child, but received
no answer.
About this time Mr.. Postle, who
had been to Marion, returned, and
n search was ut once instigated.
The well was examined, then the
stable, where horse was kept, they
supposing that she might have went
in and got kicked or trampcd by
the horse; but she was not there.
Mr.. Postle then entered a sort of
shed near the stable, and before he
had proceeded far, he ran against
some object, which upon examine
ton proved to be his daughter, who
was hanging by the neck, and from
appearances had been dead for some
time.
1t is supposed that she had pro-
cured the rope, climbed up OH one of
the cross-picces in the shed, and
fastening one end of tho rope to
this pole and the other end around
her neck, had deliberately jumped
down. When found her feet were
touching the ground, and by little
exertion she could have saved her.
self; but she seemed determined to
destroy herself, and this determine
ton did not waiver even when the
remorseless rope was tightening
about her neck, and the torturous
process of strangulation was. rapid
ly depriving her Of life. Having
been told that life was the only bar
rier between her and her mother,
she had fully resolved to remove it.
She took every precaution to guard
against failure of her effort, hav-
ing put the rope twice around her
neck.