Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-06
Relatives of Marcus Allen I'm
allie to Say Why He Should
Have Committed Act
HE MYSTERY is EXPLAINED
Was of Cheerful Disposition and
Known Not to Have Had Any Love
Atfair-supposed to Have Been Due
to Temporary Observation-Disclosures
Frustrated by the Tragedy.

| The motive that prompted Marcus
| Allen. the son of Mr.. and Mrs. George
w. Allen, living five miles northwest of
| the city. who committed suicide Friday
afternoon by hanging himself as was
published in the T.-R OF that date, will
probably ever remain a mystery.
Neither relatives nor friends OF the
young man are able to account for his
rash action. and speculate as they. will
| they can give no good reason why he
should have wished to end his life. So
| far as is known the only possible rea-
son that can be given, Is that while IN
a fit of temporary insanity he was
| seized with a desire to die, and acting
on the craZed impulse of the moment
| hanged himself with the bride taken
from the horse he was riding. His
death has cast a great gloom over the
family and is especially hard for the
mother to bear.
George Allen, the young mans father.
was called to Des Moines on business
Friday morning. and before departing
! from home made arrangements for
leaving money in this city for the
young man, who had been talking with
his brothers regarding coming to this
city on the day following to spend the
Fourth. Shortly after dinner Mrs. AL
len suggested that he had perhaps bet
ter go TO the pasture, j quarter OF a
mile distant. and look over the stock
pastured there to see that nothing was
wrong. The young man complied with
her request, and left the house on
horseback, having saddled and bridled
one Of the horses for that purpose He
was in a cheerful mood when last seen
alive by his mother, ard shouted a
greeting to a neighbours children as he
passed their door yard. George Ward,
a neighbor, whose farm adioins that in
which the Allen cattle were kept saw
the young man ride into the pasture
and watched him moving his horse
among the animals as tho he were
counting them. He paid no farther at
tention to him. and thought nothing
more of it until probably two hours
| later, when he again glanced In that
direction and noticed the horse on
which young Allen had been riding
was quietly feeding It was still sad
! died. but the rider was nowhere in
sight Thinking of q possible accident
he started in that direction and on
nearing the timber saw ire young man
apparently standing under a tree with
| his head thrown back as tho he were
gazing at some object in the top above.
| It took but few steps NOR to bring
| him to a full realization of the true
situation of affairs. for hanging to the
Hover limb of one of the trees dangled
| the lifeless body Of the young man. He
| had taken the bride from the horse,
and doubling the reins. had made a
running moose Of them which he placed
around his neck. while he fastened the
| head piece over the limb. This he evil
IDENTIFY did while still astr!de Of the horse.
Driving the horse from Under him he fell
| into space and hung dangling with his
! toes just touching the grass. The limb
which he selected for his purpose was
rather small and it is not thought he
could have climbed out on 1t and
Jumped off. Mr. Ward lowered him
from his position and went to the AL
lien home, where he broke the news to
the family.
Cause Of Act Unknown.
| Marcus w. Allen was 21 years of age
and so far as his parents know he had
never had what might be termed love
affair." On the contrary 1t is said he
never paid marked attentions to any
one girl. He was apparently healthy
young fellow, altho not SO strong phys
ically as most men of his age. He
was, however, able, and did do, his
quota Of the work about the farm. He
was of a pleasant and cheerful dispo-
sition, and was liked by the young peo-
pie of the neighborhooc. The family
does not believe the act was premedi-
tated, for he had spoken Friday morn
ing. and also the day previous, of his
plans for spending the Fourth in either
this city or Albion. If the cause was
one which the family and friends knew
nothing. it died with him. for no writ
ten message that would give a clue was
left behind.
The funeral.
The funeral was held Sunday after
noon at o'clock at the residence, and
was one of the largest that has ever
been held in that vicinity. Neighbors
for miles around gathered to share with
the family the sorrows of parting. The
irterment was in Riverside.
In the Police Court.