Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-11
SUICIDE At BURLINGTON.
Prominent Citizen Hangs II imself to a
~ Railroad Bridge.

- Burlington, sept, 1l.-JameS =. 1rWln
committed suicide yesterday morning.
The sad news was received in the city
and, In fact, thru the country, with the
deepest sorrow. for few men had more
friends than Jim Irwin. Death was the
result Of strangulation by hanging and
when the body was discovered life had
scarcely left 1t.
Passenger train No IL had left West
Burlington and was coming down the
grade to this city at about four o'clock
yesterday morning. Conductor Clark
was In charge OF the train and Engineer
Price was at the throttle. AT his post
by the window Of the cab the engineer
was watching the road ahead, when
suddenly he saw against the gray of
the breaking dawn in the east, the dark
Silhouette Of human body hanging
from the overhead bridge beneath the
tracks. In an instant the big engine
and its long train crashed past and in
q few moments drew up at the union
station in this city. Then word was
sent to Coroner F. T.. Unterkircher, who
went at once to the scene of the tragedy
and cut down the body. Not until then
was it identified as James Irwin.
The remains were brought to this city
at s a. m. and placed in Unterkircher's
morgue and later the sad tidings spread
rapidly thru the city calling for express
slons OF sorrow and sympath ny wherever
they were heard. %
There is no doubt that the deed had
been thought out carefully. Even the
spot selected was so remote from the
usual haunts OF men at that hour that
there was little Likelihood Of any ono
seeing and rescuing him before death
came. In the dead mans pocket, In a;
small red pocketbook. was found a
short note. The words were written In
pencil upon brown piece Of paper and
were as follows:
am not getting any better; thought
4 would end my trouble and have some
one else look after my estate.
81 IS. j. P. IRWIN"
That was all. No date, no farewell In
structions, nothing to show that the
deed was done in a spell of melancholy.
but q simple. straightforward note,
written In the plain style that has al
ways characterized Mr.. Irwin
For some time the deceased had been
in poor health and had been living with
his son, Woods Irwin, at Danville.
Burlington, Sept. Thames C.. Irwin.
q prominent citizen and public official
OF this city and county. killed himself
by hanging to the bridge this side OF
West Burlington shortly after mid
night Monday night. A short time ago
he suffered stroke of paralysis, and
2his mind has not been in the best OF
condition Of late. It is believed that he
was demented when he did the deed. A
railroad crew first saw him hanging
from the bridge, and some member OF it
notified the authorities j. A. Rupp,
might sergeant, went to the scene. and,
after taking the body down. brought 1t
& TO an undertaker's for the inquast.
James Irwin was 81 years Of age, hav-
ing been born in Belmont county, Ohio.
He. came to Danville. Iowa, in 1858, and
Slater to Burlington, where he held office
for number of years. He was county
aret6rder for four years and deputy
county clerk for nearly eight years. flll-
Ing the unexplred term OF Clerk Ing
ham upon the latter's death. He was
then deputy under Clerk Lang four
years Up to three months ago he was
With the National Life and Trust Com
pany OF Des Moines. when he resigned
en account of i'll health.