Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-04-01
SUICIDE OF
|. B. DAWKINS
Further Particulars of the Death Of
a Former Well Known Citizen
of Fergus County.
COMPANION CLEARED OF BLAME
Long Time Sufferer From loeomoter
Ataxia-Suicide Was EVi.
IDENTIFY Well Planned.

Two weeks since the Argus contain
ed a brief account Of the suicide OF
Ira b. Dawkins. which occurred in
Oregon February 22nd.
Mr.. w. II. Barney, of Garneill, al
old friend of Mr.. Dawkins. since re-
ceived the following clipping from
the columns of a paper published at
Freewater, Oregon:
Sunday morning this neighborhood
was startled by a report that |. b.
Dawkin, residing at the home Of j..
A. Rogers, half a mile north OF the
city, had shot himself through the
head. Rumors with all shades OF
varying truth and falsity quickly fol.
low all sensational events and this
one is 40 exception to the rule.
Mr.. Rogers occupies at night a
chamber on the second floor. while
deceased, owing to his infirmity, slept
in a chamber on the ground floor.
Mr.. Rogers arose as usual on Sun.
day morning and proceeded to pre-
pare breakfast for Mr.. Dawkin and
himself. When the meal was ready
Rogers passed from the kitchen and
asked Dawkin to get up to breakfast.
Dawkin replied that he did not feel
like eating and requested that a fire
be lighted in the stove to take the
damp out of the room. but stipulated
that Rogers should first eat his break
fast. After Rogers had concluded his
repast he Immediately kindled a fire
in the heater. Dawkin cautioned Rog-
ers to look after the fire SO that il
might not get too hot. Rogers return
ed to the kitchen and shortly after
wards came back and closed the draft
in the heater. Proceeding back to
the kitchen he was asked to close the
kitchen door, which he did. In the
midst of his work in the kitchen Rog-
ers heard a dull. muffled sound that
he thought came from the stove. on
which he had placed d pan of cold
water. Finishing his labors in the
kitchen he went, with broom in hand,
to sweep and put in order the other
rooms of the house. when he first dis.
covered that something was wrong
with Dawkin. Rogers hurried across
the road to the home of A. C. West,
saying to West that the old gentle.
man had hurt himself. or words to
that effect. Together Rogers and
West entered the room: Rogers turn.
ed the bed and bed clothes, saying al
the same time: Uncle, are you
sick?"
Then was discovered the gun tight
ly clasped in Dawkin's hand. Rogers
said; This Is the first | knew thai
the old man had a gun. | didn't know
there was such a thing about the
place"
o. II. Dakin vas dispatched fol-
medical assistance. who met DR.. Ditto
brandt but a short distance from the
house. or his way to visit a patient
farther down the country. The ply
stefan pronounced the man beyond
reach OF human aid.
Hasty examination failed to dis,
close any action Of burning powder
lending color to the murder theory
A slight confusion lear the right ey,
was the only wound visible on the
features. which at first glance might
have been taken for a bullet wound
Further examination revealed the fac
that the bullet entered the right eal
and passed out neal the top of tn,
head. The gun is an old style Brit
ish bulldog double action ii-calibel
short.
County Coroner Cole, OF Pendle
ton. vas conferred with owe long dis
lance phone. who sent instructions
empowering Justice of the Peace J
l." Miller to empanel jury and procee,
with inquest.
The jury comprised s. Mortensen
G.. Lydell and Fred Evans, of Free
water, C. w. Armstrong. Thos. Starl
and O. C.. Rinker. OF Milton: ]. l.
Miller, Judge; c. A. Cowl. stenograph
or.
These gentlemen proceeded TO tn
home of the deceased and examine,
the following witnesses: DIR. Ditto
brandt, J. A. Rogers. A. f. West. O
H. Dakin and George Miner, n gul
expert.
o. G. Rinker was called to the wit
ness stand from jury. His evidenc
was especially desired from the fac
that his acquaintance with decease,
extended over a period of forty years
After hearing the testimony tn