The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-12-11
SIMPSON KILLS HIMSELF
Particulars Of the Shooting o
Richard Simpson.

Particulars of the Shooting OF
Richard Simpson.
The following account of the shooting
Of Richard Simpson is from the Farragut
correspondent of the Shenandoah Sen
final:
Richard Simpson, an old soldier resid-
ing three miles southwest of here, shot
himself with suicidal intent Sunday
evening and is fatally wounded.
He walked out of the house about 1880
Sunday evening, sat down upon the
ground by box elder tree in the yard
placed the muzzle Of a twenty two
caliber rifle against his bowels, deliber-
ately pulled the trigger. There were
home at the time his three sons, all
grown. his daughter and her husband,
Mr.. A. l.. Emerson, formerly harness
maker at Shenandoah. Mr.. Simpsons g
wife had gone to Leon the Friday before
where another daughter was sick and
expected to be operated upon for ap-
pendicitis Monday, of this week.
The family at home had no intimatioE
of the intention Of the father to kill
himself. When they heard the report
of the rifle they went out and found him
sitting by the tree and learned that he
had shot himself. One of the boys ran
to neighbors', Mr.. VIM. Sandersons
and told him and VIM. Hall. who hap.
pened to be there, what Mr.. Simpson
had done. Hall and Sanderson at once
hurried to the scene and carried the
wounded man into the house and sent
for DR.. Hatton, of Riverton. The lattor
/ arrived ina short time and made an
examination but could not find the ball.
II had entered near the navel and rang
ed downward, probably penetrating the
kidneys. Simpson continued to suffer
intensely all night bat he would not
permit Of any operation to locate the
bullet. saying that he did not want to
live and would not live, that if he did
not die this time ne would take the next
opportunity to repeat the deed.
1t was apparent from the nature of
the wound that the man could not sur.
yive and it is likely he will be dead be-
fore this article appears in print.
1t was not known that there was any
family difficulty or any cause to justify
such rash act. Simpson was an old
,.ld;,, = ,,,oo,tor of Forroruf pook
G. A. r. ana was in town two or three
times week joking with the old soldiers
and apparently happy and conten,ed.
He was quite lame from some injury re-
ceived while in the army. He was a
member of the Iowa Cavalry. He had
lived at Farragut for about three years,
coming here from Leon where he has
some property and where many OF his
relatives reside. He was in Leon the
past summer and only last week was
talking about moving back there. Mrs.
Simpson is a daughter of Mrs. Sam
Knight and sister of w. P. McQuart,
Mrs. Bowen and Mrs. James Peterkin.
Mr.. j. M. Gudgel and Mr.. A. Booth,
two of the members OF the 6. A. r.,
called on Mr.. Simpson Monday forenoon
and he told them he shot himself be.
{ cause he wanted to die and that he
wanted the Post to take entire charge OF
the funeral exercises, and that he want.
ed no religious services.
! @olo, MI Sip,roOp afill
alive but growing weaker. inflammation
has set in and his death is only a ques-
ton of few hours. He refuses to give
any reasons for his act except that he
was tired of living. His wife has not
been informed Of the tragedy as she is
at the bedside OF a sick daughter who
needs her attention.
Richard Simpson died on Tuesday
evening at 7:l5 after forty-eight hours
ofintense suffering. Up to the last he
gave no reason for his act further than
to say he was tired of living and wanted
to die, saying that in case he did not
die he would kill himself as soon as he
got out again. He requested that in
case he died there be no religious SER
vices, and that the u. A. R. should
have charge Of the funeral. In accord
ance with his request the Farragut Post
took charge Of the funeral and there
was no other service than that provided
ia the g. A. r. ritual. The funeral was
held Thursday at II o'clock, intermen.
being in the Farragus cemetery.
Russ Bleaching Blue
should bein every home., Ask ysur groser for