Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1898-02-11
Suicide of " Waifer q. Houston.

The sad and shocking news reach.
"a Keytesville last Wednesday morn
4 lng that Walter G. Houston. a farmer
residing in wayland Township, had
committed suicide by hanging himself
Coroner G. M. Dewey, in company
Nth Constable F. M. Veatch, left for
ohe scene of the tragedy, in accord
nee with his official duties, to hold an
inquest on the deceased.
Five witnesses were subpoenaed, and
2 coroner's jury..impaneled, compos-
ed Of the following persons:
THE JURY.
Erastus Evans, George Egan, Thos.
Herndon Frank Yates, J.B. Naylor and
Chas. Harvey, of which ]. B. Naylor
was elected foreman.
THE TESTIMONY.
The first witness called was Thos.
Anderson, who testified as follows:
81 live about one-half or a quarter
Of mile south of the deceased. The
first that saw of the deceased he was
hanging by the neck from a rope, with
his hands tied behind him. ! think
from what / saw that he could have
tied his hands, and also have hung
himself. / did not assist in taking the
body down. / did not see any marks
of violence on him except the print of
the rope around his neck. The last
time saw Mr.. Houston alive was las
Monday. / did not think his mind
was impaired in any way. Know of no
reason why he should have committed
suicide. I assisted in taking the body
down from the hay-mow. 1 did not
examine to see if there were any
MAJ of violence on his person, nor
did see anyone else examine it."
Matilda Houston testified:
II am the wife of the deceased.
The last time saw my husband alive
<ss last niaht At bedtime. ! did not
slesp IN the rom that MY husband
slept "a last night. took enc Of the
children and he took the other one,
and he told me he would call me if he
needed me during the night. / had
seen nothing wrong with him at any
time. and / did not know that he was
gone until / called him in the morning.
I thought he looked a little troubled,
Monday, but he did not say anything.
He always did the chores in the
morning. Yesterday morning he said
he was sick, but in a short time he
said he was better, and would not let
me send for a doctor. Last night he
ate but very little supper. There were
no papers found On his person."
Fletcher Houston testified:
al reside at Albert Houston's, one
half mile north of the deceased. / was
in the barn when the body was taken
down, but did not assist in taking it
down. / did not see the rope around
his neck nor his hands tied behind
him. / did not help take the body to
the house. The last time I saw Mr..
Houston alive was last Friday. The
deceased was my brother. know of
no reason why he should have COM
mitted suicide"
Sarah Houston testified:
81 reside one-half mile north of the
deceased. / am the mother of the
deceased; he is my second son. / have
never seen anything wrong about him.
The last time I saw him / thought he
looked careworn, but / did not think
very much about it. / know of no
reason why he shonld have committed
suicide. They said he had not been
well for two or three days, but did
not know anything about it. He was
about AZ years old, and had a wife
and two children"
Wm. Anderson testified:
II reside in Charlton County, Mo.
On the 9th day of February, 1898, 1
was at home. Ralph Houston came
to my house little after daylight and
asked me if his papa was over there,
and / told him that he was not. /
then went to Mr.. Houston's barn and