Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-07-27
DEATH was ACCIDENTAL.
Rumors of Suicide In Case of w. H. NC
LeOd DLsproved by Post MOrtem.

Rumors of Suicide In Case of w. H. NC |
Leod Dtsproved by Post Mortem.
Williamsburg. July s6.-A telegram
received by the operator Sunday
morning was the first announcement
that our fellow townsman, W.. H. Nc
Leod, had been shot to death near the
Iowa river the previous evening. The
news spread rapidly and in a short
time the community was wrought up
to a high degree of excitement. The
X. of P. lodge Immediately took the
matter in hand and started an invests
cation. A train was at the station and
a number of people boarded it for
South Amana, while others hired rigs
and drove across to the river. The re-
mains were sent down here on an af
ternoon freight, but as the parties who
nothing definite could be learned as
to how the deceased met his death, SO
it was but short time till all sorts of
rumors We're afioat.
"A post norton examination was
made in the afternoon. but it was kept
quiet so that the real facts of the case
could not be arrived at till an inquest
was held.
The story as told by the witnesses
at the inquest is substantially as fol-
lows: w. II. Mcleod left home,
about 2 O'Clock Saturday afternoon
with the intention of going to the
old Mcleod homestead to see the
tenant in regard to some grass seed,
then collect some bills and go down
to the colony and pay small bill
he owed there. Before leaving he in
formed his folks of his intentions and
had his wife prepare him lunch,
saying that when his business was
finished he would go on to the river
and fish awhile and come home in the
cool of the evening, and that she
could expect him at about 10 O'clock.
On arriving at the Mcleod farm
he found that the renter, Chas. Hun
zelman, was absent, and he had some
conversation with his wife relative
to his whereabouts. He told her that
he might see her husband and that
he would probably go on to the river.
This was the last time he was seen
alive, as he did not. stop at the col
ony at all, so far as known.
When he did not come home at the
appointed hour his folks began TO
worry about him. and the following
morninu his sister. Miss May Mcleod,
entertained great fears for his safe
| w, and accordingly she called in w.
*. Evans, neighbor, and securing
the team started the search.
After making inquiries at the col
ony they drove directly to the place
where he had intended to fish. and
there their eyes met a CHASTITY sight.
His horse was unhitched from the
buggy and tied TO tree. The cush-
Il 31,<, lN.,<
turned back. The horses bride was
bottom of the buggy. North of the
wire fence that runs in a northeast
erly, direction parallel with the bank
of a bayou and about ten or fifteen
feet from the bank. Beyond this
fence lay Mr.. Mcleod. When found
he was lying on his left side with his
head to the southwest close to the
fence. The position of the body was
! quite natural; the left limb was
SLIGHTLY bent, the rigfs nearly
straight, the left hand wasaunder the
i body, the right hand on his chesA
Wi.n bsa S S anadfr nfs he inh oa Ae
! part Of 1.-THE lunch had been eaten
The gun yvas about eight feet away
A fhe breecH in natural position, no
sideways, the muzzle pointing to til
north and extending a foot over tn
\ hank. AT little distance was hi
fshing tackle, and it appeared as if h
! had been using it.
There We're blood stains on his cloth
ing and the ground near him, .bu
none on the gun or near it. As N
. Evans could not move the body alon
they drove to the colony and securin
: assistance and went back after it, an
I took it to South Amana and sent
: to Williamsburg OH freight train.
The post mortem eNaminatio
= showed that the thumb and first tw
!, fingers of one hand were badly sha
! tered and there was large gapin
= wound between the thumb and frs
: finger of the other hand, while ther
\ This wound was 21ax3 inches in siz
: directly through the left side of til
y chest at right angle with the axis {
= the body in standing position. Tt
: heart was completely torn away.
:, Judging from the surroundings an
, from the fact that it is almost
u physical impossibility for man to ii
fiict such wounds upon his own pc
u son with double-barreled shot gu
!, the coroner's jury could but say tn;
:, he met his death by the accidental di
charge of the gun, which was know
: to be faulty.
:, Mr.. Mcleod was A very promineI
:, :, man here, and having been intereste
in all the grain elevators between he
- and Ottumwa he is widely known j
:, , this part of the state He leaves
+ wife and two small children and mar
J friends, who are nearly Frustrated wi
:. grief.
II
r MUST STAMP CHECKS.
r.
d Official Decision Received by Depu
n Collector $. Il. Vest.