Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-07-01

Frank Liddle, quite we'll known to
the people of Extra, he having con-
Quoted restaurant,in this city several
years ago in the Bush building that
was destroyed by fire, is no more
dead-committed the act of self-de-
struction in hotel at Cedar Rapids
Monday morning by emptying the
contents of revolver into his skull.
He was son-in-law of the late Henry
A. Spring, who is now resting in the
Extra cemetery. Liddle has resided
at Belle Plaine until recently where he
has been employed as a railway switch
man. Being out of employment he
moved with his family to Cedar Rap
ids with hopes of obtaining work, but
he failed. Regarding the awful affair
we clip the balance of this article from
the Cedar Rapids Gazette of June %,
including letter written by Liddle to
his wife:
At last have decided what to do. | am 60
ing in the morning to see Bert. Jimmie, +: A.
Spring and few other friends; Everything
seems to have gone wrong, and there seems to
be nothing left for me except to leave, What is
to be will be, and it seems to be all right foL me
no love for you all denr'y, but H.. unable to
provide for you and if 4 am out OF the way your
friends will be more willing to help YOU was
insulting tongue of your mother. | went up
stairs and kissed poor little Chester goodbye.
could not say goodbye to yonm1y heart WIS
seold and find fault it almost drove me mad.
your house, but must scold and jaw you and
Hazel from morning to night and then pitch on
me at odd times. Monday morning she was mad
an insult to me by saying that she had no re-
spect for man who even drank glass of beer.
Then told her to hire hall if she wanted to
she do then but abuse mo in every way possible
and threw all my faults in my face for the fifth
time since she came to our house. wish a. she
alone. hope she will let up on you and Hazel.
If she MUST have something to lash her tongue
fathers, stuff them set up in the back yard and
let her jaw. l will tell poor Harve when meet
him that the old woman's tongue still runs. |
and under medical assistance. | am SO weak
can hardly crawl up stairs. My inside is so
sore. That rash must have gone in for have
can hear Mrs. Springs voice ring in my ears
day and night. It was the last sound heard on
and the lid
cause Chester would, and could not go home
any more. This is Sunday afternoon. would
love 10 SOC you, SueSIeF anu 1aZel, JUST once
more, but cannot come for fear Of meeting
Julia. The revolver lies on the table near my
hand at this writing, but will not use it until
morning. Do not wish to create a disturbance
today. have written notes to city coroner and
several messages to friends and relatives. They
will be sent in A. M; You have been good
wife, perhaps better than deserve, but have
tried to do somewhere near right, and failed,
utterly failed, andI believe my time has come
to go home. Kiss children goodbye and with
love and kiss for you am gone, NEVER TO RE-
TURN. FRANK.
Mrs. Spring dried her tears as she heard
the letter read, and broke the recital with
therein. why" she said, II never treat
ed him unkindly, why should 1? He was
always kind to her and the children. A few
loan of what money had, saying that he
wanted to go to Norway to look for work,
and let him Wsn it cSd gave hi
teen months old, four years ago now,
p9einttii5n & to little Chesterl Frank left his
Amstsaia. We ala not ah hear a from aM i for
time as best we could. I often loaned him
to him. We havn't a cent to bury him with
but his mother. Mrs. Della Sivers. of Ma;
quoketa, is abundantly able to do So
and how they were going to live was more
than she knew. The little parlor, though
poorly furnished, was neat and there was
abundant evidence of the fact that she
was good wife and mother. On the wall
were portraits of several members of the
Liddle family and here was demonstrated
family. James Lidd1e, editor of the Ores
ton Times, two years ago. threw himself
in front of a locomotive and was instantly
killed. He had told friends that he was
tired oflife. His father was, drowned a few
years ago and it was. always believed b,
those who knew him best that II was dom
Intentionally. Bert, another brother o
the suicide.of today, was killed in a rail
y road wreck, - = - g s55dS
- Editor Gazette.AI would like to correc
the remark made in your paper today IL
regard to my mother. Her an1aSh Liddl
were on the best of terms, U lpleas
antnesS was in our home q HeIwas
very kind husband and father and woult
never done the rash act if he had not beer
t;f, ny t 1,ae nos ana neiGhDors Sal
Respectfully,
MRS. CLARA LIDDLE.