Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-29
COMMITS
SUICIDE
James R. Burgess Former
Mayor and Postmaster
Shoots Himself.
WAS CAUSED BY ILLNESS
Worry Over His Physical Condition
is Supposed to Have Brought on
Mental Alteration and Driven Well
Known Politician to Take His Life

Mental Alteration and Driven Well
Known Politician to Take His Life.
tFrom saturdays Daily.l
One of the saddest events which has
happened in this city for years occur
red this morning when James R. Bur
CESS, one OF the most prominent citi-
zens OF Ottulnwa, ended his life by
shooting himself twice in the region
OF the heart. The tragedy happened
at $3.50 o'clock this morning at his
nome on North Court street, when the
inmates of the house were startled at
the sound of two pistol shots and
rushed to the bedroom from which
the sound was heard to find the IN
fortunate man lying in a pool of blood.
He lived about an hour, although he
dld not fully regain consciousness.
Dr. 5. A. Spilman was Immediately
summoned, but found when he arriv-
ed that nothing could be done, and a
short time afterward the unhappy vic
tim passed away. One of the sad
features of the trgaic affair is that
his wife and two daughters were visit
ing with friends in the country at the
time OF his death and could not be
reached until several hours after their
husband and father was dead.
Child Saw Shot Fired.
Last evening Mr. Burgess retired at
his usual hour and although he COM
planned of not feeling well, it occa-
stoned no alarm on the part of the
members of the family as he had been
i'll for the past two weeks, and al
though not confind to mis- bed, had
been complaining and feared a seri-
GUS illness. Nothing further was
thought OF the matter until this morn
ing when the family was awakened by
hearing pistol shots and the screams
of little John Burgess. his son and old
est child. aged IS, with whom he had
been sleeping. The child aWoke whel
the first shot was fired, and saw h.
father fire again and fall.
Relatives Present al Death.
Mrs. Mary Burgess, mother and w.
w. Burgess, the brother OF the dying
man, were staying at the house in the
absence of his wife and daughters and
Fthey, ran Immediately to the scene of
tie tragic occurrence to find him mi
conscious and bleeding profusely from
his wounds. The grewSorle sight
was horrifying to the mother and
brother. who were grief stricken by
the calamity. No sign was made by
the dying man that he recognized
those around him, and in about an
hour after he fired the fatal shots he
had expired
TWO Shots Fired.
DR.. S. A. Spilman was called and at
tended the wounded man. but he was
too far gone for medical aid. One OF
the bullets lodged in his left lung
narrowly grazing the heart, and the
other passed through the body and
lodged in the wall of the room. enter.
ing the body in the region of the
heart.
Wife and Daughters Away.
Mrs. j. R. Burgess, the wife. and
two daughters OF the deceased, Mabel
and Elizabeth, aged s and years re-
| spectively, have been visiting for
several days at the home of Thomas
Teesdale, few miles south Of the
city, and were not at home when the
tragedy occurred. They were notified
as soon as it was possible
for the news to reach them
and were sorrow-stricken when
they heard TIE sad news. The
thought that ii they had been here the
tragedy might have been averted is
another cause OF the deepest and mos;
profound sorrow They were brought
to the city late this morning and theil
grief when they beheld the remains OF
their late near relative was heart rend
| ing.
Know No Cause.
| The members of the family Of the
deceased are at q loss to account fol
the unfortunate affair, and can give nc
other explanation than that he haC
been i'll for several days and ended his
| life in a fit Of mental alteration
They assert that there was no business
worries to cause such an action. His
friends, many of whom are associates
of long years standing, say that nc
other reason can be found to account
for the sad incident.
Born in Kentucky
| The late James r. Burgess was born
!. in Bullitt county, Kentucky April 5
1851. In 1860 he removed with his par
ents to Keokuk county, Iowa. wher,
he received his education Later h,
moved with his parents to this city
and finished his education in the OF
tumwa Business college, graduating
from that institution in 1875. Ate
finishing school he accepted a posi-
ton as travelling salesman with farm
implement firm and two years late
purchased the business from thu
proprietor, H. NJ Fair, and conducted
the business for the following thre,
years. In 1881 he associated himsel
in partnership with NJ. H. Giltner, tn
firm continuing in business for severa
years.
Elected to Legislature.
Notwithstanding the demands o
business, Mr.. Burgess kept himsel
we'll informed in regard to politica
| and general matters and receiyet