Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-02
and
ENDS HIS LIE
Henry F. Brown Commits Sui
eide Because He Feared He
Would Become Insane
WAS DUE TO Ill HEALTH
Had Been in III Health All His Life
and Fear That He Would by Con-
slant Breeding, Lose His Mind, caus-
ed Him to Take the Step - Fires
Three Shots All Of Which Take Effect


The constant broodins over Ill health,
and the fear that he would lose his
reason as a result of his dependency,
caused Henry f. Brown, young farm
Ell residing two miles northeast of the
city, on the Nicholson Ford road, to
end his life Sunday night with 81
caliber revolver. His purpose was sure
and his aim deadly, as he sent one bull
let thru his heart, another thru the
brain and the third, as he evidently fell
forward, struck the forehead. fractur-
ing the SKULL but glancing off.
Brown had been despopdent for sew
eral weeks, and during the past few
Gays seemed to have grown worse. He
was the son of Mrs. Emily A. Brown
and with his mother and brother
Charles resided on the farm northeast
of the city. He was SO years of age
and from his infancy had been a suf-
attacks had left him frail of body. so
that he was unable 10 take, to any
great extent, an active part in the farm
work. 1t is thought that blow on his
head, received while he was in Mime
sofa last fall. served to hasten the end.
Altho during the. past weeks he has
been low spirited and respondent he
seemed at all times to be perfectly ra-
tional. On Saturday, while talking q
his mother, he eXpressel his regret at
the trouble and care he had caused
both her and his brother. and said he
felt that he would soon lose his mind
and perhaps he would be better off We're
he dead. During the past few weeks
ne had spoken repeatedly of the suicide
of Mrs. A. L. BonawitZ. and seemed to
feel great sympathy for that unfortu-
nate woman. Sunday he went about the
work he was accustomed to do the
same as usual, and he seemed no more
melancholy than he had been for sew
eral days.
Makes Sure Of Death.
He retired to his room adjoining the
kitchen about s o'clock Sunday even
ing, and went to bed but awoke about
1920 o'clock and opened the door lead
ing into vacant room adjoining. The
old mother, fearing all was not we'll,
called to him, asking If he was not Well
O, if he wanted for anything. He re-
replied that he seemed to be stiied for
want of air, but said he did not need
any assistance. The mothers room led
from the opposite side of the kitchen
from that occupied by the son, and
shortly after, thru the half closed door
of her apartment, she sew him pass
thru the kitchen and out into the sit
ting room and heard the stairway door
open and close, as tho he were going UP
stairs. He came down in a short time
and when again he passed thru the
his mother called to him, ask
ing him where he had been. He replied
that his health being 50 poor, and be-
ing so afraid he would lose his mind,
he had gone up stairs to look over some
papers he kept in the room above. He
evidently secured the revolver while
above, and but a moment elapsed after
he had again entered his room and
locked the door until the mother was
terrified by three pistol shots, in rapid
succession, which came from her sons
room. The explosions aroused his
brother Charlie who, upon rushing to
the room, found him dead. and welter-
ing In his own blood. 1t is evident the
man first placed the revolver to his
breast, the ball entering close to the
ripple. Altho this must have caused
almost instantaneous death, he swung
the pistol to his head and sent the sec
ond ball crashing thru his brain, just
back of the right ear. AS he tottered
forward, in falling to the floor, still
the smoking gun, the fingers
closed on the trigger the third time.
This bullet struck the forehead and
fractured the skull, glaacing off and
bury!ng itself in the ceiling above.
When found he was lying face down
ward. still holding the heated weapon,
which was of the self-act:on style.
Henry +. Brown was a Marshalltown J
boy, having been born in this city at !,
305 East Church street. where his par
ents formerly lived. His father, Fran
els Fl. Brown, who died twenty-seven |
years ago. was one of the early settlers
O. this city and a dairyman. For the
past twenty-eight years The family has
resided on the farm where the tragedy I
occurred. The catastrophe is especially |
hard for the mother to hear as she is
very old and has been cripple for
many years. About twenty years ago
she lost daughter who was killed in
a runaway. The mother and son are
the only near relatives living.
In view of the facts surrounding the
suicide Coroner Liere has decided an |
to be unnecessary. The funeral |
have not yet been COM
pleted.