The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-05-17
SUICIDED.
Henry Tharp Ends His Life By
Shooting.

last night about midnight by shoot
ing himself with thirty-two revolver.
He put two balls in himself in the
neighborhood of the heart and a
third one entered the skull about an
inch and half above the right eye
brow and little to the right of the
forehead.
The act of self destruction was
committed at his boarding place at
the residence of Theo F. Slater, B.
avenue west, east of the Iowa Central
yards. The man went into the door
yard at the rear of the house fred
the shots and fell about twelve feet
from the rear door step. The revolver
with which he shot himself was found
east of the woodshed while he was
lying on the west of it. The gun was
broken as if to have the shells ex-
tracted. 1t is probable that the man
threw his hand up with the last shot
and the gun went over the woodshed.
The shots aroused the neighborhood
and the body was almost Immediately
placed in the hands of the authorities.
1t was taken to the McCurdy under
taking shop where it was cared for.
The young man had been in the
city in the evening and he had been
drinking some but not to!excess. He
had been with several friends and
acquaintance and had gone home
about 10 o'clock. He went in the
room where the family wasYand ask
ed for his clothing and his satchel,
saying that he was going away. He
said 81 have got a place with Mr..
Prime in the country and want my
Clothes" He packed his things in
the valise and then asked for some
fine shirts that had been kept apart
from his other things. These were
given him by daughter of Mrs.
Slater, Mrs. Lucy j. Clarke. When
she handed him the clean shirts he
said 81 have made up my mind to
kill myself" The woman thought
the fellow was joking in the face of
the preparations that he had been
making but she chided him and he
reasserted that he was in earnest.
She went with him out on the
porch at the front of the house and
sat with him for quite time. Her
father came out to make her go to
bed, stating that the young man was
only joking. The girl turned to go
into the house. AS she left him
Tharp pulled revolver from his
pocket and said this is all there is
between me and my box" Mrs.
Clarke tried to get the gun from him
and leased him for it a while but she
finally went into the house and
Tharp turning by the side of the
house went to the rear door yard
and Immediately proceeded to put
his threat into execution. Mrs. Clarke
went to the rear window and called
to. her parents that Tharp had killed
himself but they did not believe it
until they went to the PROSTATE form
and saw. the coat burning from the
fire of the revolver. Mr.. Slater threw
some water on the burning garment
putting out the fire and then called
for the officers.
The deceased is young man 25
years and 5 months of age. He is
the son of Mrs. Mary G. Wheedon
who resides on a farm about three
miles north of the cityEon the river
road. The young man was for time
employed by the Iowa Central and
worked on the coal ishutes. He left
that work and has been engaged in
mining coal in one of the local banks
west of the city. He has been work
ing only about half time and has had
much time about the. house. Mrs.
Slater stated that he had always
seemed of cheerful and happy dis
position and it was the first time that
he had ever said anything that would
lead them to think that he had ever
contemplated anything like such a
deed. He was well thought of by his
companions and friends ana all are
at loss to account for his untimely
death.
The mother is not at all reconciled
to the theory of suicide and the cor
oner will make thorough investiga-
ton of the affair. There will be an
inquest held Monday.