Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1889-06-21
A Double Tragedy.

.lIeT u ClOCh ~ P.Ssoi oEoto
rom a small outb uilding at the
.esidence of Fr INK Propst
startled the few VIII were on tb e
streets in that L elghborhoe d.
Rushing to the place and push .ng
open the door Frank and jos eph
Propst were found in the ag' mics
Of death.
It seems that Joseph, i'm medi-
ately after breakfas's. in .ormed
his brother that the door
OF the outbuilding was brok-
en- from one OF the him ges and
proffered his assistance in fixing
it. Frank at once repaar ed to the
building, and while repl acing the
hinge, Joseph stepped into the
building and closing the door,
at once began shooting. He fired
two shots at Frank, both with
deadly effect, as they passed en-
tirely through the hes d. He then
turned the weapon u pom himself
and fired two shots The first
directly o1er the h' ,art, glanced
and ranging around came out un-
der the arm. The second shot
was nearly in the center Of the
breast and passed entirely through
the body, all but breaking the
|skin. Joseph died almost instant
lily, but Frank, though unconscious,
lived about four hours. DR.. r. II.
Brown, who lives opposite was
the first physician to arrive and
was quickly followed by Drs.
Sage and Avery. Frank was car
ried to the house, and as soon as
the flow of blood was stopped and
an examination made, the physi-
clans pronounced the case hope
less, and that he could live but a
very short time.
Joseph Propst, who did the
shooting was % years of age and
: the youngest son of Robt. Propst,
: one of our most prosperous farm
: ers. Many years ago he was
thrown from horse and when
picked up was unconscious, and
remained in that condition nearly
, two weeks, but finally recovered.
The parents noticed that he was
never again the same after the
5 injury, but as nothing serious
n seemed to grow out of it, the matter
! was almost forgotten, About a
year ago he became subject to fits
of melancholy and would weep
: without any apparent reason. In
S one Of these fits some time age
o he expressed to his mother the
q wish that he was dead, ard said
he believed he would kill himself
DR.. Ellis Of Brashear gave him
a thorough examination several
weeks ago, and as result of the
: examination stated that there was
v an abnormal growth On the brain
: and that he would not live three
o months. He also notified Frank
by letter that Joseph was wholly
irresponsible for his acts,
{ Tuesday preceding the fata
# morning he came to town an6
; stopped with his brother. DR.
9 Brown noticed his condition anc
warned Frank that it was danger.
GUS to have him unconfned as he
was liable at any moment to at
tack his dearest friend, Franl
expressed no fears on his own &C
count, and was only afraid tha
S 80" would injure Himself. Thu:
f it went On till it eliminated IL
. the terrible tragedy of Friday
= morning, which has oagt 3 gloon
Il over the entire community.
e Frank was the eldest of tht
a children, was we'll known through
q out the county, and no man stood
= higher in the community. He was
: a careful business man, promi
g nent church member, and was
/ trusted ana respected by all who
n knew him.
II The funeral of the brothers tool
/ place from the NJ. E. Churcl
4 Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock
: Revs. Greene and Palmer preach
e ing the fur eral discoars8s. Aftel
b the funeral services at the ch4rcl
the bodies were conveyed to the
= Kirksville cemetery, followed BY
fla large concourse of people, ane
U laid IN raSt