Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-25
.DIESBY HISOWN HAND
Frank @. Robinson Found sus.
pended by the Neck. "a
DEED WAS DONE In AN OUTHOUS E
The Oldest Mail Carrier in ottumwa-
Was Not Missed Until O'clock
Saturday Evening-Body Found at
9.3o-No Cause Assigned for Deed.

1
Saturday Evening-Body Found at
s.3o-No Cause Assigned for Deed.
From Mondays Daily.
Hanging from rafter of an out |
house in the rear of the linseed oil
mill, a searching party found the life
less body of Frank G. Robinson, the
Oldest Ottumwa mail carrier, suspend
ed by two straps from his own mail
pouch, about $50 o'clock Saturday
evening. Mr.. Robinson was seen to
cross the railway tracks from a resi-
dence opposite the mill about 8
o'clock Saturday afternoon, and walk
between the building and the small
house used to enclose big vat, in the
direction of the clubhouse, where he
was afterwards found. 1t is almost
an assured fact that he committed
the deed within a few moments after
altho his absence was not discovered.l
until about six o'clock, at which time
a searching party composed of post
Office employees and policemen was or
ganized to look for the missing man.
No reason is assigned for his act |
and his friends and relatives are at a
loss to find a motive His wife is |
Frustrated by the blow. He left |
no note of any kind giving reason,
unless few lines penciled on stone
step on the north side if the oil mill
are in his handwriting altho their gen
uineness is questioned. Even this
would throw no light upon the mo-
tive. The lines, which were nearly
obliterated yesterday afternoon might
have been written by some boy, but
We're signed "F. R." Deputy Post
master Fred w. Wilson examined
the writing but could not identify it,
principally because the stone on
which the words were written was
uneven and the signature was printed.
The message on the step read: 81
houses on the corner and intend to |
hang myself at three o'clock. F. r.
That they were written by Mr.. Robin
son is improbable, because he was
seen to go directly behind the linseed
oil mill without stopping on the side
of the building where the step is To-
Gated.
The body was found about $50
o'clock. The patrol wagon was call
ed and the corpse was removed to
the undertaking parlors of McIntire
& Sullivan, on West Second street, |
with the strap still around the neck |
of the deceased. Mr.. Robinson's |
watch, pocketbook and small amount
of silver, together with small articles
We're found in his pockets, which to-
gether with the manner in which his
body was found, would strongly in
dictate that he had done the deed him
self. No marks of any kind were
found on the body that would lead to
the belief that any person, other than
himself had had a hand in his death.
Mr.. Robinson had exhibited no signs
of mental distress, either to his fam
lily or to his friends. He had receiv-
ed new uniform to be used in the
lodge work of the Canton, the highest
branch of Odd Fellowship, which was
recently organized in this city. His
wife had taken his measurement for
3 the coat and at noon Saturday it ar
rived. He tried the garment on and
remarked to Mrs. Robinson how well
it fitted and with what correctness
she had taken the measurements. He
seemed to be in his usual health and
spirits at this time. He was also
seen about two o'clock and again at
three, shortly before he hung himself,
4 at all of which times he appeared per-
fectly natural.
The most plausible theory is that
the cord of reason snapped in an in
slant, altho there are circumstances
to lead to the belief that it may have
been premeditated.
His Absence Discovered.
At 1870 o'clock Saturday afternoon,
Mr.. Robinson registered "out'' of the
s postoffice. His name appears on the
register written as firmly as he ever
wrote it. He had a pouch of mail for
delivery in his district, a part of
which includes that territory where
his body was found. Usually he re-
turns to the Office and registers Sin"
about $3.50 or o'clock. His non-ap-
pearance was not noticed until his
wife telephoned to the postoffice ask
I ing for him. Upon examining the reg
lister it was seen that he had not reg
istered "in" 1t was such an unusual
thing that the postoff1ce employees be-
9 came alarmed. The police, num-
Der of the carriers and other post
office employees were notified and
search was instituted. The party
went over Mr.. Robinson's route and
finally had him located within short
distance of the oil mill
Found the Body.
Gus Swanson, of SIS West Mill
street, and Ernest Stromberg, of 532
West Samantha street. first discover
ed the body. Mr.. Swanson is employ
ed as janitor at the union depot. it
was about o'clock when he return
ed home and learned of the search
that was being made. He secured n
lantern and with Mr.. Stromberg, bouh
having learned of their neighbors the
direction taken by Mr.. Robinson when
last seen, started on that trail. They
z stopped at the building where the
body was found, and ATTEMPTED to