The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31

strong enough to think of attacking ,
man of Cummings size and strength
could have crushed the skull at !,
blow. The outer clothing of the maj
had been removed. A MURDERS
would not have stopped to do that
And finally no man can be thought o
who would have any possible motive
for such crime.
The only other theory that remains
is that it was a case of suicide; and Il
that conclusion, slowly and regretful
ly, the community is gradually com
ing. 1t has been discovered that he
bought 10 grains of morphine Thurs
day morning, which was not needed
In his family and which he did moi
take home. When he left home after
dinner he tsld his wife he had to 20
into the country on business and
might not be back till late and she
would better get some one to stay
with Ter. The sheriff followed his
track Saturday afternoon and found
that he had driven straight to Colony,
that he did not do any business there
but sat all afternoon in likes restaur-
ant smoking and talking, that as it
grew dusk he said "Well, must be
going" and drove out of town to the
west, after which no one appears to
have seen him until he drove the
team, much heated and exhausted,
into the barn at three o'clock the next
morning. 1t is short two hours
drive from Colony to lola. What was
he doing the other six? Those who
have been forced to the suicide theory
suggest that he was simply driving
the country roads debating the awful
question, "To be or not to be', fight
ing alone and in the dark the battle
of his life. They reason that having
settled 1t, he swallowed the NOR
phine, drove rapidly to town, and
went to his office, removed his outer
clothing and lay down to enter into
the sleep of death. Perhaps, in the
excited condition of his nerves and
mind, the morphine crazed instead of
supplying him, or perhaps its action
was too slow for him, and he got the
Ratchet and tried to brain himself.
Failing in this, he took his pen-knife
which was found open and bloody
beside him-and tried to open the ar
terry at the wrist, and failing in that
also, in desperation he slashed his
arm. At last yielding to the loss of
blood and to the effect of the morphine
also, he fell into unconsciousness. Of
course all this is mere conjecture and
may be widely wrong. But we give
1t as one of the theories that may pos
sibly explain this sad mystery. The
condition of his business affairs,
which are known to have been much
involved, may have supplied motive
for the deed.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Brown, of Humboldt, was |
promptly notified of the death and on
Saturday impannelled a jury to in
quire into the mystery. Witnesses
were examined ON Saturday and Mon
day and then the jury adjourned till
yesterday to await the coming of
witness who had been summoned
from outside the State. The jury con-
vened again yesterday and spent the
day examining witnesses and looking
over Mr.. Cummings books and pa
pers. 1t is still i'm session as we go
to press, and we must therefore wait
until next week to publish its verdict.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
w. A. Cummings was born in Park
County, Ind, in 1855. About 1868 he
came with his fathers family to Kan
sas, settling on a farm near Carlyle
which his mother still owns. After
coming to manhood he taught school
for several years, and then went into
the real estate, loan and insurance
business in lola, i'm which he has ever
since been engaged. He was happily
and his wife and four bright
survive him.
He was insured i'm the A. o. u. W.,
D. s. F. and M. w. A, to the total {
amount of $1,000. OF which it is under
stood that $1,000 is payable to his
mother and $1,000 to his wife. Until @
his affairs are adjusted it cannot be q
Known what other resources will be
AVAILABLE for his family.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral was held at the resi- r
lence at 8 o'clock Sunday afternoon \
md was probably the largest ever .
cen in lola. 1t was under the direc-
ion of the Odd Fellows, assisted by d
he A. o. U. w., o. S. F., M. w. A, v
nd K. of P, and representatives of 7
hose orders were present from Fl. I
'cott, Bronson, Humboldt, Yates
enter, NeOsho Falls and Moran, to "
he number probably of about 800. U
he total attendance must have been II
over 1000. Music was Il
FINISHED by the Cornet Band and by N
double quartet of singers. The SER a.
ices were brief but impressive. And r.
l all the vast concourse there was M
OF one heart that did not bleed in al
with the sorrow of the be- "
saved relatives, and particularly re-