The Van Buren press., 1893-07-15
x. I. Kerr Ends his Life With a Load
Of Bird Shot,


Fort Smith Record]
Like a thunderbolt from clear sky came the
startling intelligence Wednesday morning that
X. 4 Kerr, one of our prominent attorneys, had
shot and killed himself, ut his home on Fifteenth
Street.
Inc news created great sensation, as all the
circumstances surrounding the affair pointed 10
suicide, yet no motive could be assigned for the
commission of such rash deed. Mr.. Kerr was
always quiet, apparently in good spirits and
had no trouble that weighed heavily upon him.
The bloody deed was committed sometime
between four and five o'elock Mr. Kerr has al
ways been an early riser and Mrs. Kerr noticed
nothing unusual in his conduct when he arose
lie kissed his wife tenderly and then went out
toward the rear of the house, as it is his custom
10 attend to the early morning chores. About
o.3o Mrs. Kerr arose and and on going to the
Kitchen found no fire. She was surprised at this
ana went out In the back yard to look for Mr..
Kerr. After searching several places. she went
up into the stable loft and there found her hus-
band laying cold in death with large, gaping
bloody gun shot wound in his breast. Mrs.
Kerr was greatly shocked by the discovery but
spread the alarm and the neighbors came and
tenderly carried Mr.. Kerrs body into the house.
Dr. Saunders who lives just back of Mr.. Kerrs
was called in and after an examination said that
life had been extinct about half an hour. Mrs.
Kerr says she did not hear the shot. number
of the neiehbors heard a shot, and place the
time as neaHfour o'clock.
When found, Mr. Kerr was lying on his back
on some hay that was scattered over the floor,
his feet toward the stairway ard his head near
/ fbao oO,,tk all e a. H.. Ii.
lay the double-barrelled shot gun that had sent
the messengers of death through the body aud
near by was a little pine strip about two feet
long. This was covered with blood, aud its po-
sition in connection with the body and gun gave
rise to the theory that Mr.. Kerr placed the muz-
zle OF the gun against Ills breast the stock
against the floor or wall, and had used the stick
to touch the trigger and discharge the gun.
The gun had been loaded with bird shot The
charge entered near the left nipple, passed
through the heart, and several of the shot came
out the back about three inches lower than the
wound In the front of the body. The right bar
rel of the gun had been discharged and the left
was loaded and cooked.
Mr.. Kerr was only partially dressed he had
his pants and shoes on, but still wore his night
shirt instead of shirt
Mr.. Kerr was born in Missouri about fty-fve
years ago, and served during the civil war in
the Confederate army under Joe Shelby. He
married daughter of Gen. Raines, a neice of
Col w. NJ. Cravens, and came to Fort Smith
soon after the close of the War He represented
Sebastian County in the Legislature two sessions
and was Senator from this district one session.
He was one of the representatives from this
county to the first session of the legislature after
the adoption of the Constitution of 1874. His
home life has been very happy and the only
cause that can be assigned in support of the
theory of suicide, is ill health. Mr.. Kerr has
been suffering great deal of late years of dis
orders oft he stomache and last night passed a
miserable night He left not single token of
his intention of ending his existence.