The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-01
HIS TROUBLES ARE OVER
-
John Rapp Killed Himself Ysstsr-'
day at tho Residence Of John +,
W. Jockey.
& @
He Was IN Old Timer, and Was
Well Known to Many
Montanians.
Times He Was Very Melancholy and
Had Threatened to Take His
Own Life.

Tired of living and disguised With him
self. John Rapp yesterday afternoon took q
Remington rifs and blow of the top Of his
dsnos Of John W. Lsekey. 023 Missouls
n Rapp was Al old-timer In Mon
tana. having come to the state In 1868. He
was q baker by trade and for . number OF
years he worked for Chas. ". Cannon.
Richard and John Jockey. but In recent
years no has done almost anything that
came TO hand. working principally ~ . cook.
For the past three weeks he has been In
Helena. sleeping At the house Of John W.
Jockey on Missouls avenue. Nj. Lookey's
family 10 AWAY. and for the past two weeks
Mr.. Jockey has not bssn At home. but has
bsen stopping Of his sisters. Last Monday
Rapp secured = position through ths Orris
employment agency In Z hotel al Nsihart.
Not having tho money to go there. he ap-
piled to Mr.. Jockey. and that gentleman
authorized Orris to get Rapp 4 ticket, give
him some money for the trip. and then send
tho bill to him. John Jockey accompanied
Rapp whom tho latter called on Richard,
and after the arrangements wers made
Rapp seemed to be very happy At the prof.
poet of going to work. Rapp was to start
Tuesday morning. Tuesday night Mr..
Locksy went over TO his house to sss II
everything was all right. and 40 Rapp. WAS
not there he supposed he had gone. Yes.
terday afternoon he went over again. and
going mp stairs was Mortified to find Rapp
lying on tho floor dead. his head in q pool
Of blood. Coroner Peasants was notified
and su%mmoning a jury he went to the house
to hold an inquest.
The house IL = two-story frame, within q
stones throw of the Rapid Transit limo on
Idaho street. An examination Of the room
IL which bic. R ssa lay: and tho .o'i'ien
had come home some time y.ste1-
day afternoon. taken OF his hat, coat, vest
and shoes. and lain down on the
bed for a time. Then be had
gotten up. stood In front Of q mi.-
zo".. placed the muzzle Of a rifle
with his too. The ball took off the top of
his head, and made q large hole In the osil-
ing. When found Rapp was lying square
on his back. his legs crossed with the gun
between them, and right under his feet wal
a great mass of his brains. and ont in the
hall was a piece OF his skull larger than =
butter dish.
John w. Lookey was the only witness be-
fore the coroner jury. His story was sub
stantially % told above. and In addition he
said that Rapp was about 80 years of age
and single; that he was . drinking man,
and often had fits of melancholy, and he
had several times said he would kill him
self II he was not suoh a coward; that when
he saw Rapp Monday no had bsen drinking
some, but was not under the influence Of
liquor; that he had not seen him since,
though he had learned that the deceased
had been In John Wiok's place in
tho morning. Mr.. Jockey also testified
shat he found out that Rapp had not called
for his ticket for Nsihart and that Orris
still had IL. 80 far AZ he knew he had no
relatives in Montana. but he believed be
had I've nisees In Memphis, Tenn. The
rifle, MIR. Jockey testified. belonged to
himself. II was a 1910 Remington, but
II was unloaded the last time he examined
II. and there were no cartridges in the house.
Rapp must have gotten one down town,
gone home. loaded the gun and sho. him.
self. Mr.. Jockey believed Rapp had be-
despondent and while in that oondi.
tion had killed himself.
The Jury rendered = verdict in accord
ance with the above, and Undertaken
Flaherty took charge Of the body. The
neiahbors In the house Immediately ad-
the one whore Rapp killed himself
did not hear the report of the gun.