The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-07-12
a. Fl. x.atahen, suic,des

lhts community was greatly shocked
Saturday morning upon the receipt by
the Masonic lodge of q dispatch from
Sioux City that A. r. Latchem had com
mitted suicide. The deed WAS committed |
in the basement of Smith g. Groves gro
Gerry store at $50 in the morning. He
shot himself directly through the heart
and died almost Instantly. The follow
ing particulars are taken from the Sioux
City journal:
Mr.. Grove, who was in the store when
Mir. Latehom had gona into the
cellar, ostensibly to the water closet,
said: lie came in here this morning
apparently in u Cheerful frame of mind.
l noticed him writing on o piece of brown
wrapping paper andthcn he went below.
A moment later came the report or a pls-
tol. | rushed to the cellar door aud Us
| opened it heard Latehcm groan and
saw him lying Mt the foot of the stairs
with his hat, csat and vest of. l di-
vined what had happened and has
tened to the home of DR.. Ross for medi-
Gal aid"
DIR. Ross, at whose home Latchem and
bis family were stopping, said: Il have
known tke deceased for several years
n am well acquainted with his family.
He was of exceli,nt family connections,
Intellectually brilliant and of cultured
mind. His term of auditor of Brula
county, South Dakota, terminated last
year and since then he has been dong
very little. The fact cannot be evaded
that his reduced circumstances are due
to the habi. of strong drink, But with
al, he maintained his integrity of char
aeter and was thoroughly honorable
lie first came to Sioux City two months
Moines Tank Line Office as manager.
Shortly af!erward his position was
changed 10 that OF city collector. There
was 9 disposition among the Office force
TO make his connection with that insti-
tuition an unpleasant one, and as a con
sequence he was discharged. BY the
aid of a brother-inlaw, a member of tn
banking firm OF Head Bros, OF Jefferson,
Iowa, he moved his family ten days
ago to jackson, Neb., with the intention
OF buying out an established grocery
business. The terms did not SUIT him,
however, and he brought his family back
to Sioux City, arriving here on Tuesday.
They came to my house and We're here
when he took his life. Not one of us,
including bis wife and 11-year.old boy,
had the least suspicion of his rash act.
He dressed carly this morning and just
before he left his room he kissed his boy
and wife. be went out and returned
again to kiss his boy and wife. II woke
Mrs. Latehem and he said to her. ''Jen-
MS, you had better get up" He tn en-
passed down stairs and into the cellar of
the grocery store"
That the dead man had contemplated
the deed is established by the following
correspondence. The first letter was
written on the 3rd inst, the first time he
visited the cellar of the grocery. 1t is
supposed his courage failed him at that
time as also on the 4th, the date of the
second note. The last note, addressed
to Messrs. Smith IL Grove, was written
on the piece of wrapping paper Just be
fore he went to the cellar on that fatal
errand.
Sioux City, July3, 1889 DIR. Grant J.
Ross-My Dear Sir: On receipt of not
} tice of my death | wish you would help
Mrs. Latchem. | wish you to telegraph
Mahlon Head, Jefferson, Iowa, and j. T
Lickle, Odeboldt, Ia, They will assist
you and pay all bills. A. r. Latehem.
Sioux City. Iowa, July 4th, 1Ss9.-Dr
Ross; Will you please call on the Ma
? sonic fraternity for assistance2 Hoping
you may pc rewarded SONS uhy, 1 an
very respectfully, A. h. Latchem.
Messrs. Smith s. Grove: Please hell
Mrs. Latehem out of her trouble. Mn,
4 has lasted as long as l can endure it
. Hand Mr.. Ross his letter as soon as 70,
can A. r. Latehem.
: There were two other letters to hi
wife, which were delivered to the gre
stricken woman.
) The deceased was born in Ohio 81
years ago last November. He cam
from Montezuma, Iowa, In the spring o
; 1888 to Kimball eud erected Il f1ne build
Q ing in which he opened a general stor
and continued his business here until ap
pointed county auditor. He was a maj
i of superior natural business qunlidcn
lions, of q companionable disposition
generous to q fault. and made friend
. easily. OF him it may be truly said, ht
washis w worst enemy. Between hill
. and his wife and little son there cxiste'
% q DEVOTED affection, and the hearts of tn
people here go out to the young widor
aad son in their terrible affection.