Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-09


The man and woman were immedi-
ately taken from the bed and carried
to another room. Physicians were
summoned and commenced the work
of resuscitation. A brief examination
showed that Taylor was already dead
His wife was still breathing and the
physicians Immediately turned their
attention to reviving her.
Cracks and keyhoie Plugged
An examination of the room showed
that Mr.. and Mrs. Taylor had planned
their double suicide with the greatest
of care and ingenuity. They had TAX
en- pains to see not only that there was
sufficient gas to asphyXiate them, but
that the fact that a suicide was being
committed should be concealed until
after the deed had been consummated.
Every crack and opening in the wall
was plugged so that no gas could es
cape, paper and old rags being used
for this purpose.
The cracks in the door and the key
hole were also closed, so that there
was no possibility of the gas getting
into the hallway. This accounts for
the fact that there was no odor of es-
Gaping gas in the hallway during the
morning.
Relations Notified.
The chief of police sent kilograms
| to the relatives of the deceased Tay-
lor announcing the suicide Mr.
Bracket also notified McDermott's
undertaking shops and provided for
the care of Taylor's remains. In ev-
cry particular he carried out the last
instructions of the unhappy couple.
Both Signed the Letter.
A letter was found on stand in the
bedroom which had evidently been
written by Mr.. and Mrs. Taylor prior
to the turning on of the gas. 1t was
intended as an explanation for the sui
| eide, and is as follows:
!, Dependency caused by success
sion of disappointments, failures and
poor health the cause.
I'VE have decided to bid you all
goodbye.
| 1--WE feel that We are no longer able
to make our living by hard work, con-
sequently have outlived our useful
ness. We are much better off than
thousands that are struggling for a
scant living and helping to fill the
money-bags for the misers and corpo-
rations and trusts. Poor unfortunates
that do not work are not the people
that get the money. If such was the
case We would have a plenty. AS # is,
we are penniless. All we ask is de.
cent burial at once.
I'VE have no friends or relatives
that have money for that purpose
IAN inquest is entirely unnecessary
We have no debts, as we have always
paid as We VENT. D. Taylor, Anna
Jane Taylor"
Directions for the burial and Motif
cation of the relatives were left as fol-
lows:
please ship trunk and contents to
1887 East Main street, Ottumwa. la.
Tie up the trunk with a rope, as
the bottom is broken.
also notify William H. Taylor,
Barnes City, Iowa. Tell him to notify
Will, Al and Mary. Notify 20S South
Nobel street, Indianapolis, Ind. Tell
them to notify the folks at Cincinnati
Richmond and other places. By doing
these things you will greatly oblige
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. d. Taylor.
i Please bury us in the clohting thai
We have on. We prefer McDeymott as
undertaken"
Mrs. TayIor's Health Poor.
Mrs. Taylor's health has been very
poor and the couple have been unable
to procure any sort of employment al
which both could work. For a time
Mrs. Taylor tried canvassing, with
small success and the husband also
tried various kinds of work, but made
no money. Wednesday night it is sur
missed the couple talked the entire
matter of their failures over and de
/ cided that there was nothing rosy left
in this world for them. That the best
thing they could do would be to cease
to become a burden to themselves
and their friends by committing sui
eide by passing away into the great
unknown world beyond.
j Mrs. Taylor Taken to Hospital.
Mrs. Taylor was taken to
the M. E. hospital, where she
will be treated. Late reports show
J that she is improving and it is believ
| ed that she will ultimately recover.
l Mrs. Emery left on the
Rock Island this Afternoon
J for Des Moines to be at her mothers
) bedside, and to arrange to bring he
back to this city if she should recov
or