The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-26
The Rum Traffic Sends
Charley Rutledge Into
Eternity.
WITH A BULLDOG
Revolver He Took His Life, Fri
day Forenoon.
A CHASTITY SIGHT!
His Body, When Found, Saturday
Evening.

Charley Rutledge, tailor, was found
dead in a field of Judge West, near
the railroad track, south of town, Sat-
urday evening about six o'clock.
The circumstances connected with
the case show his death to have been
the result of shot fired by himself
with suicidal intent. The Coroner's
verdict is that his death was the result
of gunshot wound in his head, made
by ball from a bulldog revolver, cal
iber 80, that entered the right side OF
his head, on line from the eyebrow
to the ear, and midway between these
points, that was fred by the deceased,
probably with suicidal intent. The
deed was committed where the body
was found-it had not been dragged
nor carried there-and was committed
while he sat with his back against a
hickory tree, and his body had fallen
to the left and lay on its back when
found.
Coroner, DIR. J. W. Young, was sum-
moned and at the investigation con-
Quoted by him, the above and the fol-
lowing facts were brought out.
Rutledge has been drinking man
for several years, and of late had been
drinking heavily. He has been living
with his wife at his father-in-law's
home in Carter's Addition, and at his
mothers, in the Underwood home,
east OF the Foulk House-dividing his
time between them.
Thursday morning, he left his
mothers, saying he was going to work.
But he was not seen again until he ap-
peared Friday morning, at the home of
Mr.. Charley Plummer in Carter's Ad-
dition, and told Mrs. Plummer he
wanted to borrow revolver, saying he
wanted to shoot spotted dog that was
mad, and that had been bothering
people in that >neighborhood. Mrs.
Plummer sent her son Frank, upstairs
to get bulldog revolver, which Rut-
ledge got. MRS. P. testified that all
six barrels were loaded, as she had
loaded it herself.) Before he left,
Rutledge asked for a cup of coffee,
which he drank. She noticed that he
had one wrist tied up with a white
b andkerchief, or rag, and that there
was blood on his hand. AS he turned
to go. she noticed corn silk on his back,
and asked him where he got it; when
he asked her about it, and requested
her to brush them off. When found,
the rag was still tied around his left
wrist, and two gashes were found in
the wrist, both made from left to right,
one following the wrinkle across the
wrist next the hand. From these cir
cumstances, it is inferred that he slept
Thursday night in the stable of the
Foster home, that he attempted sui
eide by cutting his wrist, early Friday
morning, and then changed his mind
and procured the revolver.
From Plummer's he went north on
Detroit street to Mr.. POOLS, where he
went in the house, and asked for a
drink of water. He was sent to the
well, where he took only small drink.
This was about 900 o'clock. Leaving
there, he was last seen alive, by Mrs.
Pool, as he went north on Detroit
street.
He was found about six o'clock, Sat-
urday evening about $50 yards north
west of the Pool house, under a hick-
ory tree to the west of Detroit street,
by William Basil, who went into the
field to cut some grass to feed his
horse. Basil went back and got Allen
Glendenning, a youth, to go with him,
and they found Rutledge lying dead
under the tree, as above related.
Frank Plummer, a boy some twelve
years of age, testified that while cross
ing the field about HOO o'clock Friday
morning, he heard two shots fired in
the direction of the tree, and this is
the nearest to fning the time the deed
was committed. The condition of the
body showed that the deed had been
committed some time the day before
the body was found.
The revolver lay by his Left side, two
chambers being empty. Mrs. Plum
mer testified that all the chambers
were loaded when she gave the revol-
yer to Rutledge.
There was but little powder on the
face, and no burn, showing that the
pistol had been held some distance from
the head, and for this reason the first
shot probably missed it's mark.
The body was brought to Kennedy's
undertaking establishment and pre-
pared for burial, and then taken to the
Foster home in Carter's Addition,
where funeral services were held Mon.
day morning by Rev. S. S. Adams, and
the remains were taken to Pleasant
Hill cemetery, north of Round Head,
for interment.
Rutledge's own hand aimed the shot
that put out his life, but back of him
stood the ghoul that sold him the
liquor which fired his brain.
If we had not been raised where we
have been accustomed to the sale oi
the vile stuff that makes men criminals
and paupers, and robs them of reason
and life, we would drive the liquor
traffic from our midst as an enraged
people would a man who would sell
their children clothing infected by a
deadly plague.
Cursed be he who puts the bottle tc
his neighbours lips. When will so.
ciety rise in Indignation to drive the
wicked traffic from the pale of civil.
zatiOn?