The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-24
OFFICERS HOLD
INVESTIGATION
No Doubt About Reynolds Hav-
ing Committed Suicide.
LAD FEARED INSANITY
Letters Left by Youth Are
Made Public.

Coroner McCalIister and Assistant
County Attorney Edward Dill, returned
yesterday morning from Valley Center,
where they went to make an investigation
OF the circumstances surrounding the
death of Joe Reynolds, who shot himself
with a % calibre rife on April 10th at
his home near Valley Center.
In an effort to shield Mrs. Reynolds,
the mother, who has been very i'll, the
boys father concealed from the public
the letters that were found in the boys
pocket. as he wished to keep from her
the fact that their son had committed
suicide. as he thought the shock would
be more than she could stand in her
weakened condition IN doing this Mr..
Reynolds aroused the suspicion of a num-
Der Of the people living in the vicinity
of Valley Center, and much strong com
ment followed which was at once quieted
though by the result of Fridays investi-
cation, which proved beyond a shadow
of a doubt the manner in which Joe Rey
nolds met his death.
The two letters which We're written by
the young man just prior TO his death
were given TO Attorney Dill and were
compared to other writings Of young Rey-
nolds and are undisputedly in his own
handwriting. They We're taken from his
coat pocket by his father a short time
after the shooting occurred and they
read as follows:
Ny Dear Father and Mother: Forgive
me this-it was my highest aim and en-
- ,,,,J
comfort and happiness to your declining
years. I fear insanity, and with it
burden and a care greater than this.
May God forgive me. is the prayer of
your ungrateful boy. JOE REYNOLDS.
Another to his sisters and brother was
BIS follows:
Dear Sisters and Brother: I know not
what to say in these last words TO YOU
You have been so good to me. better
than I deserve. And you know not why
I bring this upon you. for ! have kept it
from you ! have tried to be cheerful
and helpful, but for the rlcst part failed
and now TO keep you from greater
care-this IS why l fear I am loosins my
mind. Forgive me. Do not look upon
this with great sorrow. but may God help
father. good bye Good bye to all JOE
Several statements were secured from
prominent people living in and near Val
ley Center, the persons who were first to
arrive at the Reynolds home after the
unfortunate occurrence and in these
statements the young mans condition is
described and reference is made to the
letters which several Who were present
noticed in his rockets
Mrs. c. S. Harrington stated that Mr..
Reynolds came to town and wanted TO
use the telephone to send for the coroner
ana the sister in this city. He said Joe
has shot himself." And afterward went
home with him Ny tiisst thought was
that perhops Mr. Reynolds was excited
and it might be that Joe was not dead.
but when ! saw him. ! knew at once
that he was dead He was lying with
his head to the north and the right limh
was nearly straight, the Ieft was curved.
and the left arm WAS lying over thu
breast. the right arm at his side and the
gun was between his legs.
Mr.. Reynolds picked up the sun and
told hiIn To get wide board to put the
body on. / then went into the house and
fixed a place for thu body After he was
brought in I went fer MIS- Reynolds and
took care Of her.
Clark S. Hauington's statement was
much the same as Mrs Harrington
only he stated that he and Wm. Perrin
took care of the body and that there
We're no wounds or bruises apparent on
the body He also stated that he no.
ticed the letter in the boys pocket when
they undressed him.
Mr.. \ p. Wright also stated that there
Were no marks on the body and he ais,
said that he saw the letter in the boys
pocket
William Perrin also gave similar
statement. He said that AR Reynolds
said that it would be better on account
OF the women. 20 let it appear that he
had been Kicked by a horse. or that it
was an accident
James Howard and Charles Bourman.
OF this city also gave statements con-
corning the condition and appearance Of
the body when they arrived on the scene
and the result OF their examination as
70 the nature Of the wound in sthe boys
mouth and head.