Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-14
Misses the Woman and Turns Gun
on Himself.
A TRAGEDY IN SOUTH oI1UMWA
Whisky InnpeIs Resident of the South
Side to Attempt to Do Murder
Failing in This He Turns Weapon
Upon Hi.aseIf.

CraZed and rendered suspicious oil
his relatives by the excessive use OF
liquor, which had deadened his intel
lect and made him forget the love he
owed his wife and daughter, Thomas
Doherty this morning shot and killed
himself after m stking an ineffectual at
tempt to end his wife's existence. The
tragedy occurred about o'clock at
the home of the unfortunate man, on
Weller street in South Ottumwa,
where he had re sided for twenty years
or more He fingered until noon, al
though consciousness never returned,
and just at IL o'clock he succumbed
to the effects Of his rash act and be-
came another of. the many victims of
q too strong app elite for intoxicants.
The bullet wi th which Mr.. Doherty
shot himself W hs from a thirty-two
caliber revolver. which he obtained
turing the past few days evidently for
the purpose of k: Hing himself and 9TH
er members of his family. The bull
let pierced his lip and PISSED upward
through the face, going behind the eye
and lodging at the base of the brain.
Result oil Long Spree.
Doherty residesa in South Ottumwa
for many years, and was engaged un-
til recently in tn e blacksmithing busi-
ness, his shop ia cling on Church street,
with the rear toward his home. He
was the son of John Doherty, Sr.,
one of the pioneers of that part
of the city, and himself
and the members of his family have
for years enjoyed the respect Of all
who knew them The sad affair of
this morning, the elimination OF an eX-
tended debauch, is regretted by all, al
though those who have been in posi-
ton to observe Mr. Doherty and his
actions during the past year are not
surprised.
Victim @ Imagination.
From Fred Gilbert, the son-in--
law OF the unfo rtunate man, a repre-
sentative of the Courier today learned
of the facts which led UP to the sad
affair. Mr.. Gilbert said: THE trouble
began long tim ago and is all the re-
suit Of Mr.. Dohertys appetite for in
toxicants. The truth is that there is
mortgage on the home, and some
time ago my wife and offered to take
up the mortgage and furnish the table
board at the house if swe would be
charged no rent. Up to that time we
had not beef living with the folks.
I'VE have be en- doing this and he
has had no exp ense to meet. He has
been drinking u great deal, and this
fact is, think, responsible for the
trouble. He imagined that l was try
ing to get the home place away from
him, when l was simply trying to pay
off the mortgage and save it for him
He treated us all, his wife, my wife
and myself, badly, and lately has beer
worse than ever toward us.
Saturday night, for the first time
since have known him, my father-in
law would not let his wife sleep with
him He locketl the door to their room
when he went to bed and when Mrs
Doherty would have retired she coult
not enter. Yesterday he was not a
home much OF THE time and spent mos
of the day on the North Side. In the
afternoon he came back and was sit
ting in the door way of his shop. was
at home with MY wife and her mother
and / went out to the shop where Mr.
Doherty was an d talked with him. Us
nalIy he is very cross with me when hi
is intoxicated, but yesterday he wa.
more agreeable, than he had been 20
a long time, since last winter, in fact
when he and j had some trouble
Only a little over week ago he order
ed me to leave The house and take m,
property with me. He was drunk then
When he was sober he was agreeabl,
and never caused the least trouble.
Acted Strangely.
Last night he aeame home from tow
about 10 o'clock and went upstairs t,
his room For rlhe first time since
have known him he took lamp alonj
and left it lighted. Usually he uses n,
lamp when he goes to bed, as the elec
trio light shines n at his window, bu
last night he took a lamp and it stait
lighted all night.
Il became suspicious of his actions