The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-04-12
A. b. HEDRICK.

Last Friday morning the word flew
rapidly over Chanute that A. b. He'd
rick, one OF the leading business men
OF Cbanute had committed suicide.
A hasty inquiry soon developed the
fact that the report was all too true.
Mr.. Hedrck came down to his Of
flee that morning about O'Clock. his
usual time, and walked through the
front office without saying anything to
his partner, Mr.. Belford, who was sit.
ting at the desk writing, and passed
into the back room. Mr.. Bedford was
soon called cut of the Office to inspect
some improvements that were being
made at the back of the lumber yard
aud was gone some time. Finally he
came back to The Office and some one
calling for cement he went back into
the cement room and was astonished
to find Mr.. Hedrick lying on the floor,
his head in pool OF blood, stone dead,
with a revolver lying at his feet.
DR.. Light was Immediately sum.
moned. He made q casual exam ma
tion and found bullet hole in his head,
just back of and slightly above the
right ear. The coroner, Ralph Light,
being absent at Shaw, team was sent
for him ard on his arrival in the after
noon, a jury was summoned and an in
quest held. 1t was developed on the
inquest that Mr.. Hedrick had pur
chased cheap secondhand revolver
that morning and the one found at
his feet was identified as the one sold
him but short time before he was
found dead.
The jury returned a verdict of sui
eide.
The remains were buried last Sun
day in Elmwood cemetery by the Ma
sons, the Pythians and other so
cieties participating. A very large
crowd followed the remains to the
grave.
Mr.. Hedrick came here in an early
day of Chanute and has been prOmin-
emily identified with the building up
and development of the town. He has
been the manager of the Dubach & Co,
lumber yard of this city for many
years and made great success of the
business and has accumulated large
amount of property. Early this year
he severed his connection with that
yard and has recently arranged for
starting an lndependentyard. He had
secured an elegant site and bought a
large part of his stock, portion of
which is already on the ground.
Lately Mr.. Hedrick had talked en-.
Enthusiastically over business matters
and prospects.
He never dropped word or left a
iue to indicate what caused him TO
take the rash step he did. He had
abundance of money and his family
relations were pleasant. He has not
been in good health for some time and
the day before his death was suffering
severely from stomach trouble. He
was man of few words and secretive
habits. His cares and troubles he
kept to himself. A man of strong will
and determination he carried out his
plans without much talk. Even his
own family knew but little about his
business affairs or intentions. He US
ually seemed gruff and unsocial but in
business dealings was considered hon
orable and reliable.
He served his country IN her time of
need and was mustered out captain
at the close of the war OF the rebellion.
He was past 81 years when he died.
For many years he was prominent in
Grand Army and other lodge circles
here but for several years has not TAX
en- much interest in the various lodges
to which he belonged.
Let the mantle of charity be drawn
around the frailty Of the dead. If
Mr.. Hedrick seemed harsh at times.
being man of iron nerve, who knows
the agonies he may have suffered?
Who can tell the train of thought that
led up to this act or the causes that in.
duced it? Probably less strong man
would have given up years ago. Who
knows the battles he has fought with
himself and the mental anguish he
suffered in silence? How many are
prepared to say that they would have
done better under similar circumstan-
ces? AS business man he was sue
cess and he leaves large estate to his
family.
The county commissioners were
viewing the roads in the vicinity of
Chanute this week.
Conductor Tweedel has sold his
residence in the Third ward to Joe