Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-02-08
Al SHEETS DEAD.
Takes Poison and Dies Last Night. -
Board of Trade Business.


Al Sheets ended his own life last night
at his home in this city by taking
poison. Sheriff Anderson and Deputy
Humphreys were there with him, as he
wanted to see his wife before going TO
Jail as he was under arrest, and while
they we're outside the door lie took the
fatal dose
Early this week it became apparent
here at the banks that Mr.. Sheets had
been doing some crooked work to obtain
money. A note turned up at the Com.
mercial Bank signed A. r. Anderson
which Mr.. Anderson declares he never
signed. 1t was for over 500. Then it
was learned from the other banks that
they were both in possession Of paper
coming from Sheets tina. was suspected.
A check came from Carroll on the Corn
Exchange Bank with name to it sup
posed to have been forged by him. Mr..
Sheets who had been at Carroll most of
the time for some months, was sent for.
He came home on the evening train
yesterday. Going with some interested
to the county attorneys office he denied
that there was anything wrong and said
these parties had signed the notes ami
checks But as the evidence cniled
around him he weakened slightly aud
privately told Sheriff Anderson he
would kill himself rather than l.
punished. He was arrested by the
sheriff about eight o'clock last event,
while in Myers & Blume's Office. The
sheriff and deputy accompanied him
to his home about nine o'clock. He was
in the house about ten minutes, they
seeing him through the window as he
passed from one room to another. They
saw his wife pleading with him and cry
ing, ard then she called Mr.. Anderson
saying A had taken poison. He first
denied this, but Anderson said he could
smell something on his breath. Sheets
then admitted he had taken poison and
gave Anderson an empty bottle
saying he had taken it's contents. 1t
was two ounce bottle labeled chloro-
form. Doctors were sent for also
neighbors. Mr.. Anderson kept him
moving around as long as he could
but before even Mr.. Lane arrived
he was down. They laid him on the
lounge. He had bought the poison at
Tricks store about six o'clock, two hours
before his arrest, saying he was buying
it for some ones sick horse. When Drs.
Childs and Miller arrived they did
everything possible, but could get moth
ing from his stomach aud he died at
eleven o'clock.
1t is not yet decided when we go to
press at two p. m. whether the funeral
will be Saturday or Sunday as word has
not been received from his folks in Iowa
county. Mrs. Sheets is Frustrated with
grief. She and their three little children
have the sympathy of the community.
An inquest to fulfil the letter Of the law
is being held this p. m. Mr.. Sheets
was social and kind hearted man and
had many friends. He was in the hog
buying business here many years but
the last two or three years has done
little but deal on the board of trade. At
one time, it is said, he made $1,000, but
recently he lost constantly till all was
gone. The need Of money is supposed
to have led him to do the unlawful acts
that brought him to his downfall. The
papers that have SO far appeared that
are supposed to be forged aggregate
about sl,4O0. They are divided around
among the three banks and among few
other citizens.