The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-09-19
DEATH BY SUICIDE.
ira j. Whitney Shoots Himself
In Forest Hill Cemetery,
HOughtOn.

ira -. Whltney SnCOtS Himself
! In Forest Hill Cemetery,
HOughton.
Last Saturday THE SENTINEL con
tanned an item to the effect that Ira
| j. Whitney had committed suicide
at Houghton the previous day. At
the time no particulars could be OBJ
tanned, but the following account is
taken from the Houghton Gazette
of this week: Last Friday, after
noon great excitement prevailed in
Houghton when it was reported
that Ira j. Whitney, travelling sales
man for Smith, Wallace Il Company
of Chicago, wholesale boot and shoe
manufacturers had committed sui
eide at Forest Hill cemetary. He
had transacted business with his
firm S customers as usual, and ac-
cording to his order book the last
sale was made to Peter Ruppe g.
Son, of Hancock, on Thursday even
ing, Friday morning he purchased
a revolver from Pinton S Hardware
store in Hancock. He next came
over to Houghton where he pro-
cured small box from Matt Haug
and placed his large diamond shirt
stud and other jewelry in it and ex-
pressed it to his wife at Green Bay.
After doing this he wrote six letters
and handed them to Postmaster
Dube, remarking that 1T was u
beautiful day" He then went to
barber shop and got a shave.
From there he made his way to the
cemetery There he met Charles
Baudin, the sexton, and remarked
that it was warm, and taking off his
hat at the same time wiped his brow
with his handkerchief. Mr.. Baudin
did not notice anything strange
about the visitor and he went in one
direction and Whitney in another
! Soon Baudin heard three reports
from pistol and going in the di-
rection from which the sound came
he found the man lying on his face
with two bullet holes in his left side
and another in his right ear. In
formation was Immediately carried
TO Justice Brand who with Marshal
Foley and coroner's jury consist
ing OF w. j. Vivian, j. b. Pheiffer
". J. Sullivan, w. T. Hooper, John
Stroebal and Matt Haug viewed the
remains and rendered the. following
verdict; I'VE, the jury, find from
the evidence that the diseased came
to his death by his own hand. The
remains were then taken to Under
taker Krellwitz establishment
where they were made ready to be
forwarded to Green Bay. Mr. r.
NJ Hoar teiegraphed Smith, Wal
lace & Co what had happened and
asked what should be done with the
remains. A reply was received by
Mr.. Hoar that he should telegraph
Mr.. Whitney's wife at Green Bay,
; which he did and received reply
that one OF the firm from the Chica-
Z 90 house would come to Houghton.
Accordingly Saturday noon S train
brought Mr. Smith and Mr. Crane
The latter will hereafter look after
the firms business in the copper
country and take on where Mr..
} Whitney left off. Mr.. Smith and
, MIR. Geo. G. Sheldon left on the 2:25
train for Green Bay with the remains.
The deceased had travelled through
the copper region for the past thirty
5 three years, and with the exception
1 of oneItrip, he had always sold in the
interest of boot and shoe houses. We
5 learn from Mr.. r. NJ Hoar that he
! bought bill of goods from him in
S September, 1868 This was Mr..
Whitney's first trip to this region,
2 and he was then connected with
2 Benedict, Hall, & Co., of New York.
9 He was then about "a years of age
+. salesman on the road. Through his
: pleasant, courteous manner and
Y business tact, he won an enviablc
+ reputation. After three years OF
4 valuable service for this firm he
| started in business for himself with
two other gentlemen. The firm did
: business under the title of Whitney
. Cook ~ Co. lat Broadway, New York
n Finally after three years more thi.
$ firm failed and Mr.. Whitney went t
j Chicago, where he entered the em
S ploy of Greensfelder, Rosenthal
n Co., and succeeded John Telling
9 Since then, however, he has travelet
g for several firms out of that city.
He was born in 1889 at Nortl
g Adams, Mass. where he lived through
$ his boyhood days. He was well edu
Gated and a man of refinement an,
G could speak the German and Spanisl
:. languages. He was member of tn
g Masonic Lodge in Boston and
d charter member of the Lotus Clul
& of New York City. A widow an,
o three children survive him. F"
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