Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-07
A FARMER SUICIDES
He Was Well Known ana Was
Wealthy.
WORRIED OVER TRIVIAL MATTERS
Said the Direct Cause for Deed Was
That He Was Baked in His Desire
to Purchase Farm to Add to His
Holding.

Charlton, Jan. 4.-John Alfred John
son, well known and wealthy farmer,
committed suicide yesterday by hang
ing. Mr.. Johnson was past sixty
years old and had accumulated good
ly amount of this worlds goods but
was inclined to IVORY unduly over triv-
ial matters. A short time ago he fail
ed to purchase a farm which he
earnestly desired and it is thought
that worry over this was the direct
cause of the tragedy. Mr.. Johnson
went to bed Thursday evening in the
best of spirits after having INDUCED in
cigar and quiet conversation with a
son who had come home to visit him.
Early Friday morning he got up and
went out to the corn crib. His wife
becoming alarmed at his long absence,
went out to look for him and found
his lifeless body hanging from beam
in the corn crib with a heavy log
chain around his neck The body was
still warm but life was gone. A coro-
ner's jury returned a verdict of suicide
while temporarily insane with no one
to blame. Mr.. Johnson had a slight
spell of mental arrangement some
seven years ago, during which time he
nearly tore down the house, destroy
ed the furniture and battered himself
up badly. This lasted about four
months after which he was supposed
to have completely recovered except
for the unusual worry over trivial mat
tiers.
FraternaI Choppers.
Rosewood camp No. %, Fraternal
Choppers of America, held very in
teresting and profitable meeting
Thursday evening. This society is
one of the most prosperous and pro-
gressive fraternal societies of the city
and is adding to it's membership al
most every meeting night. The next
regular meeting, January 16, there
will be initiation ceremonies and also
the installation of officers by Mayor
CIV. Alexander, the installing officer.
Those elected are as follows: N Lei
, men, w. c.; A. B. Averill, V. c.; F. E.
Cakes, banker; ]. ]. Smythe, clerk;
A. Dahlstrom, conductor; Mrs. A. B.
Averill, inside Waterman; AL Erb,
sentry; j. o. Sharpe, o. Freeberg and
Mrs. G. R. Bryan, managers; ]. H.
Stanton, physician.
Egg Famine.
The city of Charlton is Just now suf-
fering from an egg famine, there not
being a full case of eggs at any one
store In the city and not over four
cases in all the stores together. When
the warm weather of a week ago be-
gun the merchants thought it would
start the egg crop afresh and made
the mistake of shipping all their eggs.
Now the people are hunting in vain
for eggs, the few that have eggs are
keeping them for their own customers,
who are paying twenty-five cents per
dozen for them
Jewell Co. 10, U. r. of x. p.
Jewel Co. 10, U. R. K. of p, station
ed at this place, who made such an
enviable reputation at the state en-
campment at Cedar Rapids this sum
mer though having been organized but
a little over four weeks, is holding
regular practice for drill twice week.
The boys are getting ready for inspec-
ton which will be held in short time
and under the direction of the able
and efficient officers of the company
they expect to make good showing
In the inspection and hope to rank up
near the head of the column OF com.
panies in the state.
One Case of Smallpox.
One case of smallpox has developed
in Lucas county. 1t is in the home
of s. L. Morrison, three and halt
miles northeast of Charlton and is in
o light form. The disease was brought
there by q son and daughter who came
to visit their parents and were taken
i i'll. The disease was not known to be
smallpox until j. A. McKlveen, mem
Der of the. state board of health was