Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-31
JOHN L. PELHAM OF KlRkViLLE
COMMITS SUICIDE WHILE TEN
PoRARILY DERANGED.
USED FATHERS WEAPON
Unfortunate Young Man Had Been
Unbalanced for Several Days But
Relatives Did Not Anticipate seri-
Gus Results.

hlrkV1lle, May 81. - (SpeClal.) -
While temporarily insane John l.. Pei
ham, aged So years. took his life early
this morning. shooting himself through
the head with revolver His father
who had thoughtlessly told him where
to find the weapon discovered his al
most lifelcss body within minute aft
ed the bullet had sped home and the
aged parents are now grief stricken
and almost prostrated by the awful oc-
currence.
John Pelham had lived all his life in
or near Kirkville. His father, w. S.
Pelham is proprietor of general store
here and no family in this part OF
the county is better known or more
/ highly respected. The son. who was
one of four children, has been mar
ried twice and both his wives have
died. He bore the losses quietly how
ever, and ncs,e of his friends think
that grief alone caused his mind to be-
come unbalanced. Apparently, MrPel-
ham has lived happily, though quietly,
with his children since the death of
his second wife.
For three or four days, however,
strange actions have been noticed and
yesterday Mr.. Pelham's condition was
very noticeably unusual. He attended
church in accordance with his custom,
as he was member of the Methodist
denomination. However, he talked
aloud several times during the ser
vice, addressing the minister, Rev.
Stiles, in spite of repeated requests
for quiet. In the evening he returned
| to the church during the Epworth
League service and again disturbed
the worshippers
Talked of Religion.
Several persons who met the unfor-
tunate man on the streets yesterday
report that he asked them odd ques-
tions. Several he would ask if they
were saved and would inform them
that he was ready to die.
In the evening Mr.. Pelham returned
to his home and went to bed without
removing his clothing. His father and
Rev. Stiles visited the house but, see
ing him asleep, did not rouse him. A
few hours later he awoke and made
his way to his fathers house. There
he entered a sleeping room and in
quired of his parents where they kept
| their revolver Mr.. Pelham, who says
he was only half awakened and did not
think of the possible consequences OF
his action, told his son where the
! weapon was hidden, in the money
drawer at the general store.
/ That was the last time John Pelham
was seen alive. He left his parents
home shortly before o'clock and a
few minutes later, when the father, a,
last awoke to the possible result o1
his shoughtless action. fastened to the
store, he found the body of his un
fortunate son, still warm. but devoid o1
life upon the floor in the store. Near
: by Law the revolver telling only toe
plainly the story of the tragedy
Mother is Frustrated.
The aged mother of the dead man i.
prostrated by his loss and will not bt
comforteC. Physicians and clos
friends have been in attendance upo1
: her all day but her condition is ser
sIious. The father, too, is nearly frantl
with grief.
The late Mr.. Pelham is survived b.
: his parents, two sisters, one brother
: 1.-Two sons and two daughters. Th'
children will be cared for by relatives
! The brother, Barton, lives at Los An
geles. Mrs. Lottie Johnston, one G
1.-THE sisters, resides at Crystal, Okla
Ihoma, and the other, Mrs. Minnie Nc
Laughlan, lives at Cedar, short dis
tance from Kirliville.
The arrangements for the funera
4 services have not yet been cocplete'
but It is possible they will be held tc
m OrrOW