The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-29
GOADED TO DEATH.
SCOTT wILKERsoN's DEATH.


The Brownstown Banner gives full and
clear statement of the case of Scott Wilker-
son. In another place is a paragraph show
ing that further trouble between the BROTH
ers, of serious character, has grown out
the first. The Banner says; Two weeks
ago to-day Winfield Scott Wilkerson started
to Ottawa, Kansas, where his brother
Thomas resides. Previous to starting he APP
piled to his father, Thomas b. WilkersOn,
of Scipio, Ind, who is in affluent cir
cumstances, for sufficiency of funds to go
into business. His father failed to acceie
to his wife (Scott's mother) that Scott might
take what money he desired from
the safe. This information was COM
municated to Scott by his moth
er, and by that authority he unlocked
his fathers safe and took therefrom 81 900
in United States bonds The same day, or
day following, he took altrain en- route for
Kansas, intending, If favorable opening
presented itself, to embark in business
somewhere in the West. The fact OF
the taking of the bonds was COM
municated by the father to Scott's BROTH
ers as family secret, the father statingthat
the amount would De charged to Scott, and
that in the end all would be satisfactorily
adjusted. All were perfectly satisfied with
this arrangement with the single exception
of one brother, who resides at North Yer
non. 1t seems that for several years past
ill-feeling has existed between Scott and
this brother. After learning that Scott took
the bonds from his fathers safe, he sent
several kilograms TO Ottawa. in Kansas,
with reference to Scott, several of which the
latter answered in curt and retaliatory Ian
guage. How many messages passed to and
fro. or what their contents were, we have
not ascertained. There can be no doubt,
l.Nw. hx1f bof of "a
death may be attributed to these kilograms.
On Tuesday afternooa of last week Scott
received letter from the Ottawa postofice
addressed to his brother, the superscription
of which he identified as that of the brother
who had sent the various telegraph dis
patches The brother to whom the letter
was addressed was absent from town. ano
Scott, moved by curiosity to know its
contents, opened and read the letter.
60 1T WAS THIS LETTER
that finally impelled Scott Wilkerson to the
commission of the rash act which Terminate
his earthly existence. 1t is stated that after
reading the letter, ne purchased pint of
liquor, which he drank, and immediately
retired to bis room in his brothers residence,
at half past five o'clock in the evening. Lay
ing himself upon MS back on the bed he de-
liberately with both hands placed bis revolver
loud report followed, and Winfield Scott
Wilkerson was dead. When the room was
entered short time after, he was lying out
stretched upon the bed in the position de-
scribed, the pistol resting upon his lore
head, and tightly clasped by both his hands.
Upon a stand close by the bed laid the open
letter. From its appearance it was evident
that Scott had read IL, and then crumpled 1t
in his hand; amer which it was opened out
again, re-read, and then placed upon the
stand, as If for the purpose of affording an
explanation of the cause which induced him
to take his own life. The remains OF the de-
interment, and on Saturday morning
were deposited in their final rest
ing place in the cemetery at Vernon. There
we leave them to rest quietly and peaceful
ly. No words Of ours can avail TO assuage
the grief of the young wife, who, within the
short space of three months has passed
from joyous maiden to happy bride, and
from a happy bride to a mourning widow.
For several years past, Scott Wilkerson had
served as deputy treasurer of Jackson
county. He first served under his brother
in-law, A A. Dawson, and at the expiration
OF his term was re appointed by the pres
ent treasurer, John Horstman. He was a
genial, warm-hearted young man of
twenty-five years of age, yet he possessed
| feeling of sensitiveness such as was easily
aroused into anger when he believed insult
was intended. His general disposition, how
ever, was to be jovial, kind and agreeable
with those whose friendship he valued,
stunning those whose companionship he
neither appreciated nor desired. During
his stay in Brownstown he made hosts of
friends, by whom his untimely death is
deeply lamented.