Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-10
AN TICIP ATED END.
THOMAS w. WILSON OF RED
LANDS, CAL, DRIVEN TO
SUICIDE.
Was Brother Of Mrs. |. T. Finarty, 1918
East Second Street, and Formerly
Was Burlington Dispatcher Here
Story Of His End.

on others, and after a desperate strug-
gle for death. Thomas W. Wilson.
a brother of Mrs. /. T. Finarty, 1918
East Second street, and formerly Bur-
lington train dispatcher here, ended his
troubles with a bullet in Redlands,
Cal, May 80.
The Redlands Review has the fol-
lowing account of the sad occurrence:
Thomas w. Wilson, who for the
last two years had been the bookkeep-
er and cashier of the Daily Review,
killed himself a few minutes before 5
o'clock at Redlands, May 80, by putting
bullet through his head.
Dependency, caused by i'll health,
was the cause of the rash deed. Last
paralysis on the left side. and had to
be assisted to his room on Fourth
street, near the library. though he sat
up and read the paper as usual. Later
however, when he desired to retire he
had to be assisted into bed.
This morning Mrs. Matthews, who
keeps the house where he roomed and
boarded, heard him moving about the
room as usual, and another ledger, Mr.
Salisbury, asked if he could render any
assistance. The reply was in the mega
tive. In answer to a question as to
how he felt, Mr.. Wilson responded that
he was about the same as last night
"A little later muffled report was
heard. No attention was paid to it.,
however. it being supposed that his
cane had fallen to the floor, Mr.. Will
son being a cripple, having lost one
leg, and being compelled to use two
canes in walking about. Later, when
10 further noise was heard in the room
an investigation was made, and the
unfortunate man was found lying on
the bed, with his one leg outside. He
had removed his night clothes and was
apparently about to begin dressing.
AS he lay with his face down, partly
on his left side, pool of blood had
oozed from the wound. The bullet,
from a 32-calibre, hammerless revoly-
er, had gone clear through his brain
Death had been instantaneous. The
respondent man had used his left hand
to fire the weapon, which had been
placed with Its muzzle just above the
car. Judging from appearance, he had
quickly decided to perform the terribla
deed wnen arising. and finding himself
not much better than he was last
night. He always slept with his re-
volver under his pillow, and the fatal
| shot was fired before resolution had
had chance to give way to calmer
action. Despondent, out of his mind
| temporarily, suffering from a series Of
affections, anyone Of which would
have been enough to have caused dis
couragement in the heart and mind of
a less courageous man, when he left
further disability creeping upon him,
4 the rash act was committed, which
ended his life.
Deceased was aged fifty-five years
and had spent the greater part of his
! life in Iowa, Osceola being his home
town. He early learned the business
of telegraph operator, and became
unusually expert thereat This, with
his well-balanced mind and great In
Intelligence pushed him to the front rap
IDLY, and he rose in the business until
he became chief train dispatcher TO.
the c., B. & @. road. making his home
| In Burlington, Iowa.
He suffered in health, however, and
was compelled to seek less arduous
employment He had been hurt by 4
fall, which injured the bone of his left
| knee, and three separate times he had
the member amputated. Later he
worked ct his business in West vir-
GINA. later going into business in Kan
sas City. A fire swept away his busi-
mess, however, and he came to the
| coast, securing employment in the Re
view office where his honesty and In
tegrity, together with the other quail
| tiles that had made him success Ii
| larger fields of endeavor, made hin
very valuable
The stroke Of paralysis he suffered
| Monday afternoon must have come up
en- him while he was in the office, bu1
he said nothing about it, FIe was al
ways quiet and communicative, sc
nothing was thought of the fact thai
he said little. He left the office at the
usual hour, by himself. but did not gee
to his room without help. He said tina,
his left arm had no feeling in it, bu,
as it was his left leg that had beer
amputated, probably the seriousness Of
his condition was not realized.
He left note saying that he wa;
paralyzed, and did not care to be
ONE burden on others. He leave:
q family of a wife and two sons VIII,
are with Mrs. Wilson'S parents il
Burlington, Iowa. Lyman NJ King il
his nephew. His family has been com.
4 inuniceted with ana the disposition 81
1 his remains will not be known unit
word comes from Burlington.
The coroner was notified of the oc-
currence, and held an inquest, no new
developments being brought out a
| that time.
Deceased was thirty-second de.
gree Mason