The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-17
A MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE
WEALTHY c. F. MUTH, OF CINCIN-
NATI, FOUND DEAD ON HIS FARM.
Letters That Leave No Doubt of His
Determination to Take His Life
DE PAW Works Sold.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
MORRISTOWN, Ind, April 16.-Charles
F. Muth, of Cincinnati, was found dead this
morning in his summer home, on his six
Eundred-acre farm. just a mile west of
town. Mr.. Muth was in his shirt sleeves,
sitting on a cot, with his feet crossed. Be-
tween his legs stood a thirty-two- caliber
rife, the ball from which had entered his
chin and gone through the middle of the
head and entered the brain just back of
the right eye. When found, at o'clock,
by the employee, who lives in another house
few yards away, the body was still warm,
but no one had heard the shot. The dead
mans chin was resting on the muzzle of
the gun, yet there were no signs of powder
marks visible and only two or three small
drops Of blood on the gun. The body and
wall were splattered with blood.
Mr. Muth was always very jovial, but yes
terday he seemed morose and told one of his
former tenants and later a neighbor that
there was a spot in his head that was pain
ing him q great deal. He could always feel
it throbbing. Fourteen years ago he suf-
fered sunstroke, and at times since then
his head has panied him. In case it was sui
eide, it is quite probable that the pain
caused temporary insanity. There is moth
ing else known that could have caused him
to commit the act. He was about sixty-tve
years old, and besides the large farm, which
was held jointly between him and his wife,
he was the owner of a large seed and honey
store and other property in Cincinnati. He
was supposed to be worth several hundred
thousand dollars. Mr.. Muth and his wife
were own cousins, and the farm is so willed
that it can never leave the family.
Mr.. Muth spent good deal of time on
his farm, going back and forth to Cincin-
natl almost every week. He was much in
terested in raising potatoes and sugar beets,
and made a great many experiments with
the farm, especially with sugar-beet culture,
in which he was very successful. The
Park is a part of his farm, but was leased
by the railroad company for park purposes
A wife and six children, all grown, sur
vive. They have been summoned from their
Cincinnati home. He prominent in
Ohio politics and was a strong Republican
and A p. A.
About o'clock this afternoon Coroner
Booher found the following letter on
tablet in the dead mans desk:
IF | should die on my farm, 1t is my wish
that be buried in the same graveyard
with August Miller and in the same SIM
P Dald manner My hQ G1s debts F. M GIFT be
p" IF my Masonic brethren of Morristown
would do me the last honor, it would be S.t to
worthy as man or Mason to the best of
my ability CHAS F. MUTH."
'Morristown Ind, May Is, 1898"
II have mailed home, on Saturday, order
of Mad Talbert and his check for $24:6O
His order will be filled Monday or his
check will be returned"
The notes were written just as given
above and evidently made three separate
efforts. 1t is impossible to get at the cor
rect records now to find the amount of the
mortgage on his six-hundred acre farm
here, but it Is known to be about $4,000
His farm is worth about $40, 900. The Aug
est Miller, of whom Mr. Muth writes, was
an uncle and was buried just west of the
Muth farm and two miles west OF here
in a neglected country graveyard. No one
here knew of the extent of Mr.. Muth'S
financial trouble. He has often tried to
sell his farm here and about year ago was
offered S32 600 for it, but would not take
less than $38 900. Mr. Muth was president
of the German Protestant Orphan Asylum;
also trustee of st. Johns Church and last
year was elected member of the board of
control of Cincinnati. He made a large for
tune in the honey business in Cincinnati.
This is the eighth shooting on this farm
outside Of Blue River Park, five of which
proved fatal. Two were accidents, two sui
cides and two murders This is presumed to
be suicide. Several years ago a peddler
was killed and robbed not far from this
same place.