The Red Cloud chief., 1902-06-06
SUICIDE BY
Ex.Shefih John W. Runehey Kills Him.
self While Temporarily Insane.

self While Temporarily Insane.
Last Sunday morning the citizens Of
Red Cloud were shocked by the an.
nouncement that eX Sheriff John w.
Runchey had committed suicide some.
time during Saturday night by hang.
ing himself to a bedpost. Those who
had seen and talked to Mr.. Runchey
during the day noticed nothing un.
usual in his actions, and he was ap.
parently in the best Of spirits. During
the past few days he had been engaged
in repaiuting the Holland House, and
when his days work on Saturday had
been completed he went to his home
for supper as usual. After supper Mrs.
Runchey and son Richard began prep.
%arations To attend a social gathering in
the south part Of the city, but when
MIR R%unchey casually made n remark
to the effect that he intended to Kill
himself, Mrs. Runchey became alarmed
and decided to renal at home. MIR.
Runchey l%aughingly turned aside the
significance Of his remark and finally
succeeded in ~persuading his wife and
son to attend the party. During the
entire evening Mrs. Runchey had a
premonition that all was not right and
upon returning from the party, at
about IL o'clock, she went Immediately
to her bedroom in search of her hus.
band. Upon striking a light she was
horror stricken to find him hanging to
the bedpost. Her cries brought assist.
ance and the body was cut down. Med.
ical aid vas summoned, but to no
avail, as life had apparently been ex.
tinct for several hours
The position in which the body was
found indicated that Mr.. Runchsy had
deliberately s%trangled himself to death.
Taking a small cord he fastened one
end to the headboard Of the bed, max.
ing a slipnoOse in the other. Placing
the moose around his throat, he sank
forward, his feet resting on the floor,
and death resulted from strangulation.
No definite cause has been assigned
for Mr., Runchey's rash act, though he
has been suffering from fits Of despold.
I ency for some months, showing signs
of suicidal mania, and upon two pre-.
vious occasions during the past year
he had attempted to take his own life,
but each time was frustrated in his
designs by the timely arrival of assist
ance.
Funeral services were held at tn,
family residence at 10 o'clock Tuesday
morning, the Rev. T. A. Meredith
pastor Of the Christian church, preach
ing the sermon. The burial was undeI
the auspices of the A. d. L. W., o
which order, as well Ms the Modern
Woodmen, the deceased was a mem
Der.
John W. R%unchey was well know
in Webster county and was very pop
ular amocg his acquaintances, He wa
born at Compton, Lee county, Illinois
September 4, 1853, and came to Web
stcr county in 1887, locating on a farm
in Garfield township. In 1893 MI
Runchey was elected sheriff OF Web
~trr county, and in 1890 was re.electe,
to the office, serving the two term
with ability and credit To himself, re
firing from Office January |, 1898. Fo
the next two years he again engage
: in farming, and in 1890 he purchase
the Holland House in this city, whic
he managed until a short time age
when he sold out the business to MI
Ed Frye, Il g present manager.
> Mr.. Runchev WAS married Decen
Der 81, 1879. His wife and five chi
dren, three boys and two girls, surviv
him. Mr.. Runchey's parents, who n
; side at Compton, H., and five sister
and n brother also mourn his los
, The brother and sisters are George A
Runchey Of Algona. Ia; Mrs. Gaffne
of Guthrie, Okla Mrs. Matilda Dav
son and Miss Ella Runcl ey Of Conn
(, ton, N; Mrs, Rose Eva : Of Ashton
H.; Mrs. Priscilla Chick of Pawpav
Ill.