The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-15
MANKATo FREE PRESS
From Thursdays Daily.
VIM. P0WELL'S SUICIDE.

Coroner James Shoemaker returned
last night from Lake Crystal, where
he was summoned TO investigate the
case Of a suicide, Vim. Powell. He
went TO Ceresco, eight miles from
Lake Crystal, and summoned Chas
Barney, W. III. Cole, Walter Mobiles,
Z. J.MeiXell. John kraus and John E.
Thompson as jury. After careful
Investigation Of the circumstances
and surroundings, the following YER
dict was returned: "The deceased,
VIM. Powell, whose body lies before
us-eame TO his death at the house Of
Helen Powell, in the parlor, sitting in
a chair in the center of the room, in
the town of Ceresce. Blue Earth Coun-
", Mimi, on the 18th day of May,
1891, at O'Clock p. M, by a pistol
shot, ball entering his head one inch
above and one inch and a half in front
Of upper lobe Of right ear, said pistol
having been discharged by deceased
himself with his right hand.
The funeral occurred at Garden City
at 9 O'Clock this forenoon.
We CLEAN the following additional
information concerning the rash deed
from the Lake Crystal Union:
Word was received in this place
Tuesday night that John Powell, aged
over 20 years. had shot himself at his
wife's home in Ceresco. Mr.. 2. has |
been a familiar figure on our streets |
for some weeks. He was crippled with |
rheumatism. going about on crutches, /
without a home. and as he said, did /
not want 10 60 10 the poor house, and /
the county would not help him. He |
has been living with Gene Bright IN
til this gentleman moved TO St. Paul. /
when he went TO settle with j. Love
lett in this place for time. Monday /
afternoon he rode out in buggy with 1
Mrs. Z. NJ. Mead to CerescO: Tuesday |
afternoon he told Mr.. and Mrs. Gard |
ner Mead that he wanted to 90 and |
see Mrs. Powell his wife, whom ne
has not lived with for some time. |
He had little girl about years old !
who lived with her mother. He told |
Mr.. and Mrs. Mead that he wanted |
them TO go with him to see Mrs. P. |
for he wanted TO talk with her; they |
all went TO her home in the same |
neighbOrhOOd. some time in the after
noon, and they say considerable con- |
yerSaUiOn was had, he asked her TO /
shake hands and forgive him all he |
had done wrong, and she said she for
gave and would forget all. About /
III in the evening Mr.. p. was sitting /
IN chair in the sitting room; Gard /
ner Mead and Z. L. FOgg, Mrs. Pow /
o. sit n no
Mrs, Mead had gone out doors some .
few minutes before. and Mrs. p. was
Just stepping out. when they heard 4
The report Of pistol: the Two men I
jumped TO The door Of the sitting
room and saw the old gentleman
sitting in his chair dead; he had not
been moved when Mr.. Thompson ar
rived at $50. he being sent for.
He was found sitting in the chair.
his nat on his head slightly tipped TO
one side: feet sitting on the floor, the
right foot a little in front Of the
other. as if bracing the body: the
right hand living in the lap just as it
had fallen: the left hand hanging at
his side and but for tie blood and
wound in the right temple, one might
think him asleep. The revolver lay
close to the left foot, the muZZle turn
ed coward the heel, where it had fall
len from the right hand between his
legs. which were slightly parted. He
died instantly. Mr.. MeiXell examined
his pulse. but life was extinct. All
the Giro. distances look as though the
act was premeditated. Trouble and
sickness had pTeyed upon. as mind and
50 discouraged him that i c ted seY-
eral in town he wished someone
would shoot him" He was quite a
prominent business man at one time.
taking contracts. and graded. several
miles of the branch road.