Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-04

asked il she had opened 1t yet and upon
her answering in the negative he requested
her to leave it sealed for awhile. She left
the office entirely reassured and not dream
ing that her brother contemplated taking
his own life.
After the suicide Mrs. Nichols opened the
letter and found it devoted entirely to BUSH
ness matters OF. a private nature. No rea-
son at all was given for the rash act. Mr..
Hart enumerated few small bi. Is he owed.
stated that his men Were fully paid up
land requested that his sister keep the
printing business going after his death.
He asked that his remains be cremated in
lSt. Louis, where those of his wife We're
|reduced to ashes just Il year ago to-day.
He expressed a wish that the ashes OF his
fwife and himself te buried in the same
grave. The letter also stated that he car
)mother and sister being the beneficiaries.
Mrs. Hart. the aged mother of Mr.. Hart.
would not consent to the cremation of her
sons remains. but in accordance with his
Expressed wish. the body will be buried in
Lafayette. Ind. beside that of his father.
who died number of years ago. The
ashes OF Mrs. Hart will he deposited in the
|coffin containing the body.
Mr.. Hart went to his office early in the
morning and spent the forenoon making
collections About noon he entered Lewis
|Slomans saloon at Gaston's old stand, ll9
W est sixth street. He seemed to be in
the best of spirits. After lettering there u
|tew moments, he went to his own office.
(The printers had gone to luncheon and
|only r. P. Scott. a solicitor. remain III in
the shop. After sorting over his papars a
lew moments and writing a letter TO Lewis
Sloman. the saloonkeeper, Mr.. Hart call,d
Scott TO him and handing him the letter
said:
Mail this. please and get me a dimes
worth of tobacco
4 Scott took the letter and dropped IL in n
maiiboX in front of the National Bank OF
Commerce. He then got the tobacco and
returned to the printing shop. As he en-
tered the door the telephone bell rang and
without looking toward Mr.. Hart's desk
f5cott answered the call. When he TUNED
from the telephone and walked to Hurts
private desk, ne was Mortified to see Hart
lying on his side by the desk with blood
oozing from hole in his head A large
revolver lay by his side. Hart was gaspin.s
for breath. Scott called for assistance and
the police ambulance with a surgeon was
summoned. Before II arrived. however. Hart
was dead.
had evidently dropped into his chair and
sent bullet through his brain. Ii had
PASSED through his head and fallen several
est away Scott was gone about three
( Ihe letter that Scott mailed to Lewis
FORA, for 81 =, with With, request to give him
over the death of his wife and his friends
say. had acted queerly at times
Robert W. Hart was IL years old He
this city with his parents when he was
Is years old. He had been resident OF
Ine CITY Tor the pas twenty-three years.
lie worked at his trade of printer for i
number of years. and about ten years ago
he went into business for himself. cor
Quoting Job offices at various locations dur
ing that time.
In 1885 he married Miss Anna Downing.
OF Indianapolis. "A young woman whom h,
met while she was visiting in the City
Their marriage life was very happy. and
her untimely death. Just one year ago
today. was terrible blow TO Mr. Hart.
lie had brooded over his wife's death for
the rast year. and the fact that to-day
would be the first anniversary of the sad
event is given as the chief reason for taxi
ing his own life.
Mr.. Hart's estate consisted of his print
ing business, estimated to be worth about
= 600: his home at SSl6 Bell street worth
$50 and his life insurance policy for
SJUN. The body was taken to the late
home of the deceased shortly before
@, clock last night The aged mother ard
the sister, Mrs. Nichols. were prostratcd
at the terrible event.
Frneral services will be held at the house
this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and will be-
conducted by Rev. DIR. W. A. Quayle OF
the Independence Avenue NJ. T. church,
assisted by Rev. Dr.. S. A Northrop. of the
First Baptist church. The remains will
be taken to Lafayette. Ind, at O'Clock
this evening over the Wabash. and Will
br accompanied by the mother and sister