The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-05-01
SUICIDE OF
R. A. MAXEY
Pond Lumber Company Agent
at Arkansas City,
BLOWS HIS BRAINS OUT
Manager Henry ComIey Sum-
moned By Telegraph.
NO SHORTAGE WITH FIRM
Deceased Was the Father of
Craver Maxey.
NO SHORTAGE WITH FIRM

Henry Comley, manager of the Pond
Lumber company, took the Santa Fe
train for Arkansas City last night, hav-
ing been called there by a telegraph mes
sage announcing the suicide Of Robert A
Naxey. the agent Of the company at tna'
placs.
Mr. Maxey was the father OF Craven
Maxey, who until recently was the book
keeper Of the eompany-1n this city, but
who is now at St Louis The deceased
was wei known here and many were the
expressions of regret heard last night
when his suicide became publicly known.
Mrs. Comley, IN The absence of her hus-
band, was not prepared 10 say mucn, but
expressed great sorrow at Mr.. Maxey' S
tragic end She stouuy insisted that II
was impossible that Mr.. MaXey could in-
tentionalIy be short in his accounts and
expressed great sorrow Tor his widow,
who is in poor health
A copy OF the Arkansas City Traveller
received late last night gives the follow
ing account OF the suicide;
If a person had announced yesterday
that today r. A Maxey would take his
own life, there are not two people in the
city who would have believed it. Te
was regarded by every one as one of the
ciearest Drained men in the city and this
morning when the news was told upon
the streets that R. A. Maxey had killed
himself many refused to believe the
story. The fact was soon proven, how
ever, by the curious who had visited the
-aaxey home on North Summit street
and hurried back TO town TO tell the
news The story OF the suicide follows
Last night Mr.. Maxey was at the
lumber yard until after II o'clock. hard
at work on his books This being near
the last Of the month, they required con
siderable attention. +. J. Hess passed
the place about that hour and talked TO
Mr. Maxey about the hard work. They
joked back and forth for a few minutes.
and Mr.. Hess went home.
This morning ne arose at o'clock and
went 70 the lumber yard Office, where he
remained until $50, going home at that
time. He did not return TO the yard and
D. G.. Lewis opened Il at 6;45 as usual.
He waited for some time for Mr. Maxey
70 bring the horse and delivery wagon
TO the yard. as was his custom. AS he
did not arrive. Mr. Lewis sent an order
or two out with a dray. About s.30 the
wagon was taken to the yard by some
man. whom Mr.. Lewis oesn { know Mr..
Lewis asked about Mr. Maxey. and the
man replied that he was at home and
was not well. He said he was vomiting
and having trouble with his bowels Mr
W. z Wilcox went TO the yard and ask
cd for Mr. MaXey, and was told that he
was at home sick. Mr.. Wilcox hurried
10 the MaXey home to find Mr.. Maxey.
His reason was a letter he received this
morning from Ar Maxey which indicat-
ed that he intended TO take his life.
He reached the MaXey home about
il10 and knocked at the front door, but
received no response. He then went 20
the side door and knocked again, but did
not receive an answer. He then started
TO the rear Of the house and just as he
turned the corner he saw Mr.. Maxey
standing in the barn. AIr Maxey saw
him at about the same time, and reach
ing out he pulled the barn door shut An
Mr.. Wilcox reached the barn Maxey was
dead His body was lying in the sort Of
runway of the barn with his head upon
the lower step Of the stairs leading to the
loft. The feet were lying toward the
door and the revolver that had been
used was dropped upon the floor. The
bullet hole is just above and q little back
OF the right temple. The wound was
made by a 3s-calibre revolver ana pro-
duced instant death, as It passed through
the brain and lodged IN the left side.
E ". Grimes Al Mowry and several
others who were passing hurried TO the
place. Drs. Morris and Teller were sum
sary. Judge kreaner took charge Of the
remains in the place Of the coroner and
an inquest VIII be held
R A. Maxey probably had as many
friends as any other business man in the
city. He was g years of age and leaves
a wlte and two sons-Craven. who is now
connected with a st. Louis lumber firm.
and Clarence. who is IN school. lie has
been the resident manager eff the Pond
Lumber company's yard in this city Tor
q number OF years and was regarded as
good business man. he has also been
city treasurer OF Arkansas City for four
years. his term expiring today. when he
was 70 have turned his books over 70 his
successor. J. ". stanford. He was a
member Of the Congregational church.
Jie carried $4,000 worth OF insurance. as
follows, Four thousand in the Home An
nuity association Of st. Louis, which was
only written about four weeks ago: 5000
ia the Massachusetts Mutual Insurance
company, and S20oo in the A. Q. L.. w.
The following is "a part az the letter
mentioned above. Ii win DE noted thar
the letter is dated April p, and it was
propahly written BY Mr. Aaaxey last
night at the yard and mailed on his way
home II was postmarked April 50 and
was received by 1Ir. Wilcox this morn
ing Immediately upon recent OF the lot
ter Mr. Wilcox started out TO fnd Mr.
AeNes. 4oe rest or the story is told
above.
Arkansas City. Kan. Apral 9.
d" Mr. W F. Wilcox. City:
Friend Walter have made serious
hluneers which nave cost my life. I am
short N6{s-S7. I have checked on You for
This amount more than is ~ mv credit
ana enclose you note which my wife VIII
pay when YOU show her this letter
Please get my safe key No and un-
iock drawer In which You VIII find state
ment ot funds and receipts. which kindly
have J. T. Stanford To sign when you
may then turn over books etc. 70 him
5y examining my private papers In (
fle on left hand side of safe you can SAT- (
fsfy yourself this note VIII De -afs. SD
II yours. r. A. ArAXrY'
The note was enclosed and is now in I
the hands Of the bankers
There IS no explanation u ofcr as r, 4
the wherea bouts Of 1he money ana rhs 4
friends are 81 loss 10 understand what I
became Of il. He had M bad habits sr7 I.
was 3 comparatively economical mar.
Mrs Maxey is prostrate1 vsith r-iaf /