Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-07-18
Suicide of Lewis B. Harris.

This morning when j. r, Turner a farmer
living I'VE miles northeast of the city, went in
to his barn about 80 to attend to his feeding
OF the stock, he found a dead man lying in the
driveway. At first not realizing that the man
was dead. he tried to arouse him by calling him
but getting no response, made closer exami-
nation of the man and found him cold in death.
Mr. Turner returned to the house and informed
his family and his wife and son and daughter
went down to the barn, The son at once reco-
nlzed the dead man as Lewis B. Harris, a neigh
Dor, who had helped them at haying the after
noon of yesterday.
MIR. Turner at once notified some of his
nelghbors and Mr.. A. j. Hostetler at once drove
10 the city and notified Sheriff Hill and Justice
L. K. Wallace who acted as coroner They at
once drove out to the Turner home and the JUS
tice proceeded to hold an inquest. He instruct-
ed the sheriff to select jury and A. j. Hostel
Ter, John Hancock and Isaac Andrews were
| called on to act in this capacity. The coroner
and the jury went into the barn and viewed til g
body. The body was found lying on the ground
IN the driveway with the head to the west and
the bare feet extended to the east near the door,
The arms were extended from the side and the
vlctlmlay on his back with his face turned
toward the right On the right temple an inch
ana malt back and slightly higher than the
eye was found the wound made by the bullet
Death must have been instantaneous. The bull
i let did not pass through the head Blood had
flowed from the wound and from the nose and
the ground under the head was saturated with
it, Over at the left of the body beyond the
reach of the left hand and about two feet from
the knee of his left leg, lay thirty-two cali.
Der six shot revolver
SherlH hill picked it up and found all the
chambers loaded except one which contained
an exploded cartridge, the one undoubtedly
which contained the fatal shot His pockets
being searched, nothing was found except
small purse containing some change, few trim
kets and handkerchief.
After Viewing the body Justice Wallace and
the jury Went over to the Harris home to exam
inc the room of the victim. 1t was an upstairs,
room and had the appearance of being occupied
during the night. The bed had beeu slept i'm
and the victims shoes and couple of hats
We're there. An examination of the drawers of
the stand near the head of the bed revealed
day book containing some papars. In looking
over their contents a slip of paper was found
containing note dated July 9th. and addressed
TO Harms S mother. In some measure this note
to his mother indicated that he was tired of the
battle of life. That he had suffered extremely
both mentally add physically and expressed
wish to be forgiven of the deed he contemplated,
| The jury came to the conclusion that Harris
had gone to bed as usual in the evening that
some time during the fore part of the night he
had arisen and opened the east window and
gone out through it, crawling down over the
porch roof to the ground. HIS mother remem.
bers hearing him raise the window during the
night but has idea as to the time. The fact
however. tibet when the body was found this
morning, it was cold and stiff, would indicate
that the deed had been committed near mid
night or soon after. None of the Turner family
appear to have heard the fatal shot.
Lewis b. Harris was young man held in the
highest respect by all who knew him. His tragic
death is universally regretted. He lived with
his mother rnd managed her farm of 12O acres
and did it we'll. He was industrious and ener-
getic in his work, and generally enjoyed life.
But there were times when he would give away
to respondent and gloomy feelings.
| The funeral will be held at two o'clock from
the home of Mrs. Harris and will be in charge
| of the X. ?. Order of which the deceased was a
member. Thursday Atlantic Telegraph.