People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1900-08-30
Suicide Of Palmer Jones.

ouiCioe oI fdlmef Jones.
The Clinton, Missouri, Democrat Of
August II gives the following account
Of the suicide Of Palmer Jones, and
his sweetheart. Jones had been work.
ing for Tom Ryan Of Arson, until the
irst Of this month, when he returned
TO Clinton on account Of a broken leg:
Because they could not be married
and could not bear to be separ-
ated from each other, Palmer Jones
and Bonnie Turner Of the Coal neigh
bOrhood shared bottle OF morphine
and locked 10 each others arms, pass
ed into the sleep which knows no
earthly waking.
Jones was "a years Of age and a son
Of Mrs. Mock, who lives in the east
part OF the county. For some months
past he had been working on a farm
in Kansas, but met with an accident
which not only disabled him from
work, but used up his meagre savings
for doctors Care aud board. A mule
kicked him and fractured his leg.
After he got So he could walk by the
aid Of clutches, he came back 10
Henry county to visit his relatives
aud see his sweetheart, Miss Bonnie
Turner. The latter was a young lady
little past Is years Of age aud a
daughter Of Captain John G. Turner,
Union war veteran and prominent
resident OF the Coal vicinity.
On Thursday morning, Jones went
to Ira Gill OF Lincoln, Denton county,
and drew some money due him. Mr..
Gill says that young lady accompan
led him and that he did not draw all
he was entitled to, leaving a couple of
dollars OF the amount. He told Mr..
Gill be was working for a farmer at
Lake Springs, Benton county.
Saturday morning Jones appeared
at Baldock's livery barn In Clinton
aud engaged horse and buggy to 90
i've miles 10 the country. He had
frequently hired rigs there before,
and referred to the fact that he had
relatives 10 Clinton.
Sunday morning at daylight horse
and buggy by the roadside attracted
the attention Of John McGinnis, who
lives three quarters Of a mile north
east Of Coal. The rig was only about
40 yards from the house and the horse
had been unhitched, its harness re-
moved, and was tied to tree. The
occupants seemed 90 be asleep and
had fastened their laprobe up at the
side OF the buggy next to the road to
prevent their faces being seen. Mr.
McGinnis paid no attention to the
couple, suppOsing them to have been
overcome by drOwsiness on their way
home from Sulphur Springs. A num-
Der OF persons passing along the road
saw the buggy but entertained SINH
lar notions; and it was not until
nearly 9 o'clock that Link McGinnis
concluded to investigate.
When he reached the buggy he i'm
mediately identified Mr.. Jones and
Miss Turner, and knew something was
wrong. They were breathing heavily
and struggling feebly. An empty
bottle labeled Morphine" was be-
tween them, and the nature Of their
deed was instantly realized. Physi-
clans were sent for and Immediately
lifted them out Of the buggy and at
tempted to revive them, but to no
avail. They both died without re-
gaining consciousness.
In a memorandum book In young
Jones' pocket were several pages of
writing explaining the motives for
their self destruction. He informed
his mother that she would find his
pictures at Gum Parks, where he had
been working. BE told where he
mad hired the livery team in Clinton,
said it was paid for, and asked that
it be taken back. He requested that
their bodies be buried together at
U MON church.
On another page he wrote that he
and Bonnie has intended to marry
this fall but owing to his misfortune
he had spent his money and they
couldn't be married. He found be
would have to 60 away and work, and
she wo uld rather die than to be separ
ated from him again.