The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-02-07
1 CHAPTER Of HORRORS.
"A nov ACC1DErrALLx sHor.


Thursday morning, just as we were
going to press, we learned that Willie
Wieting had accidently shot himself with
a pistol. The particulars as far as we
could learn them are, that he was sent
down to do the mornings milking, and
two Of Mr.. Benz. Stones boys were out
shooting at target Willie wanted to
shoot, and for some cause the pistol fail
ed fire. He held it up to him with the
muzzle pointing to his breast and it is
supposed was examining it when it was
discharged, the ball passing into the cavi-
ty of the chest between the 9TH and 9th
ribs, about 2 inches to the right of the
median line and taking an upward course
toward the right shoulder. DIR. Boynton
was called AMI made an examination, but
owing to the depth of the wound and the
locality did not think it advisable to probe
it, consequently the exact whereabouts of
the ball could not be determined. 1t is
too soon yet to give any idea of the result
OF the wound though the Dr. seemed to
think there were faint hopes of recovery.
After making inquiries in relation to the
above and while passing along the street
we were Informed that Mr.. d. M. Norton.
father-in-law of Wesley Johnston had
committed suicide. We Immediately re-
paired to Mr. Johnston's residence to in
vestigate the reports, and found them
only too true. From facts which we
could CLEAN we deduce the following:
Wednesday morning at family Worship,
Mr. Johnston called on Mr.. Norton to lead
in prayer. His applications were fervent,
and seemed to betray nothing wrong with
his mind. Shortly after breakfast he
went out to do some work and then came
in the house again. Seeing one of the
children, lie asked for some paper and an
envelope, these being gotten him he in
dited the following :
TOLEDO, Iowa.
'MR. WESLEY JoHNsroN-Wh you
get this shant be in this world NV eff.
fects you will find in my Trunk. /
Goodbye to you all.
I'D. H. MORTON"
lie put this in the envelope, and, ad-
dressing it to Wesley Johnston, laid it in
the large family Bible which is used at
morning Worship, rightly supposing that
it would not be seen until the next morn
ing. He then went out and did not appear
at dinner or supper. Inquiry was made for
him, but the family supposing he had gone
out into the country to stay over night
with some friends, nothing particular was
thought about it: This morning, how
ever, when Mr. Johnston took the Bible
he found the letter, and upon reading it
search was at once commenced Mr.. |
Norton had for some time been doing Mr..
A. Phillips chores, feeding stock, etc,
and those who joined in the search nat
urally went to the barn about the first
thing. Upon looking in the hay NOW he
was found lying stiff and lifeless with
revolver grasped in his right hand. He
had shot himself in the head doubtless
instant death. The onlyl sur
mise which can be given as to the cause
of this act is temporary alteration of the
mind. He had been complaining for
four or five years at frequent intervals of
intense pain in his head and had also
Wednesday from the same
cause, and it is supposed the pain was SO
great it effected his brain. He was a
good man, and citizen, and in every other
respect seemed to be well contented and
happy. His relatiqes have the sympathy
Of the entire community in their sad be-