Ottumwa semi-weekly courier., 1902-05-13
Charles A. Linquist Destroys His
Own Life by Hanging.
BODY FOUND BY SUICIDES WIFE
Terrified Woman Comes Upon Re-
mains of Her Husband Suspended
From Rafters in the Summer kitch.
en- at Family Home Sunday Morning.
From MONDAYS Daily.

Hanging lifeless from the rafters of
the summer kitchen at his home, 321
| West Ottumwa street, suspended by a
clothes line which had cut deeply into
| the flesh his neck, the body of Char
les A. Lindqnist was found at 6 o'clock
yesterday morning by his awe-stricken
wife as she was about to prepare the
morning meal for her family. The VIC
! tim of the tragic affair had, it is said,
been drinking considerably during the
| past few weeks and his relatives think
| that it was while he was temporarily
deranged on account of the use of liq-
uor that he committed the act depriv-
| ing him of his life. When the body
was found it was still warm, fact
which indicates that the man COM
mittod suicide only short time before
! his body was found.
Wife Discovers Body.
The body was first discovered after
the suicide by Mrs. Lindquist, who
was the first of the family to arise
in the morning. She went into the
| kitchen to prepare breakfast and while
about this work she happened to visit
| the summer kitchen in quest of some
| find there the dead body of her hus-
band.
The grief-stricken woman summon
ed the other members of the family,
and neighbors soon learned of the
tragdy and hastened to the Lindquist
home to offer their sympathy and
their services. The relatives of the
dead man were almost prostratd by
| the awful calamity. The dead body of
Mr.. Lindquist was taken down upon
the arrival of Coroner David Throne,
who was summoned as soon as the
4 family could realize what had occur
red.
Blow to the Family.
! The tragedy was an awful blow tc
the family of the dead man. Mr.. Lind
quist never before made an attempt to
commit suicide and never, SO far as
his relatives know, did he ever before
think of committing such an act The
only solution they can offer is that the
man had become temporarily derang-
ed by reason of drinking excessively
and while in this condition his disor-
dered mind prompted him to commit
an act which, had he been his usual
ed.
Had Had No Trouble.
Mr.. Lindouist had had no trouble
with any of the members of the family
which could have furnished reason
for the deed, and as far as known
had no financial worries to prompt
such an act. Saturday night, accord
ing to one of the family, he came home
Iabour 10 o'clock, decidedly under the
Influence of liquor and would let none
lof the family approach him, saying
he wished to be alone. He retired a
short time later, and about 12 o'clock
he called his wife, who was sleeping
in an adjoining room, and asked hel
for drink of water This was brought
him and he told his wife to return tc
bed, refusing any further aid and say
/ ing that he was all right. He seemed
, sane at this time and Mrs. Lindquist
suspected nothing wrong. She heard
nothing more from her husband and
, arose in the morning supposing him tc
be sleeping in his room, but was horri
fed to come upon his dead body
swinging from the rafters in the sum
mer kitchen in the rear of the house
Had Large Family.
Mr.. Lindquist was born in Sweder
forty-nine years ago, and has been il
this country about twenty years. He
first settled in La Mont, ILL.,. after com
ing to America, and moved to Ottum
wa fifteen years ago. He was EN-
ployed for some years as carpenter
in this city, but lately has been doing
odd jobs of labor around the town
The deceased leaves nine children tt
mourn his tragic end The entire fam
lily, with the exception of one son
whose whereabouts are unknown, livt
in this city. The sympathy of thu
whole community will be extended tt
them in their sorrow.
The funeral services were held a
J the family home, 321 Ottumwa street
this afternoon at 8 o'clock, Rev. A
Gunberg, pastor of the Swedish Luth
, eran church having charge of the ser
vices. The funeral cortege then de
: parted for Ottumwa cemetery wher,
! the interment was made A larg,
number of the friends of the afflicted
family attended them in the last sa
r rites over the deceased.