Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-17
SUICIDE OF DR.. HOLMES.

%huouboAi pCoPiC "SlC plloCu anu
shocked to learn Of the suicide of DR.. J
D. Holmes, which tragic eventtook place
in Des Moines Saturday forenoon.
DR.. Holmes was for many years res
ident of Audubon town and county, he
having praticed his profession at Old
Hamlin before the founding of Audu-
bon. During his residence here, he was
a man OF prominence, not only in his
profession. in which lie enjoyed large
and lucrative practice, but in all local
affairs. He served as mayor OF Audi
bon and was an selector on tho Blaine
and Logan ticket for the Ninth district.
He was man Of learning and a great
lover Of choice literature, being a man
of far more than ordinary attachments
in literary lines.
The following account of his death is
taken from the Registea:
Withot any premonitory warming and
apparently without any known cause
other than condition appertaining to
demented state Of mind, superinduced by
over-study, DR.. John ID. Holmes, whose
Office was over Hansen's drug store, on
Locust between East, Fifth and Sixth,
committed suicide in the apartment of
his married sister, Mrs. D. L. Patton. in
the Robertson block, few doors west OF
his Office, Saturday forenoon at II O'Clock,
by shooting himself in the head with a
3S caliber pistol.
At the hour mentioned DR.. Holmes en-
tered the room where his sister was at
work performing household duties, and
requested her to 60 to see DR.. Curry
about some medicine. Fifteen minutes
later, upon her return, Mrs. Patton
found the doctors lifeless body lying
upon comforter, his head resting upon
a pillow, on the floor, a CHASTITY wound
in the right temple and pistol that had
fallen from his ,nerveless hand to his
side, on the blood-stained carpet, ex-
planned the method of his death. Hor-
rified at the CHASTITY spectacle that greet
ed her startled sight, Mrs. Patton ran
from the room and summoned the occu-
pants of the other rooms to her apart
ments to see il there was not some aid
that could be extended to restore her
brother to consciousness, but though
life was found not to be wholly extinct,
the vital fluid was rapidly diminishing
and in few minutes after her return to
the rooms the doctor breathed his last.
Coroner Ankeny was infor med of, the
tragedy and upon his arrival shortly
afterwards, he empanelled jury, COM
posed of Ed Melon, d. S. McQuiston
and Mr.. Sellee, who, following an exam
ination or the remains and listening to
the testimony Of Mrs. Patton and her
husband, the latter of whom is a bag
gageman in the employ Of the Rock
Island at the depot in this city, return
ed verdict that deceased came to his
death by shot fred by pistol in his
own hands with suicidal intent.
DR.. Holmes came to this city from Au-
dubon five years ago and entered upon
the practice of his profession. He had
had been studying very hard recently,
SO much, indeed, that he complained of
severe pains in his head. At times he
expressed a belief that nerve chord or
something he could not determine with
accuracy had burst and he seemed to
feel apprehensive that it would affect
him seriously if not ultimately result in
his death. Brooding over this ailment
became gloomy and frequently isolated
himself from association with people.
1t is thought he was seized with demsn-
tia and during the delirium took his own
life.
DIR. Holmes was A years of age, and
prior to his removal to this city had
been married, but for reasons not known
he separated from his wife, who secured
divorce and remained in Audubon. He
was member of Hope lodge of sMasons,
and Of Temple Commandery Knight
Templars, and was in every respect an
exemplary citizen.