The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1905-09-20
COMMITS SUICIDE
IN DES MONIES
Former Minot Passenger Conductor G. N.
Smith Grows Weary Of Life In Iowa. S
Capital and Drinks CarhoIic Acid -
Many Friends In Minot Are Grieved.

Var''aI anu UiiIhS U0IuvlIG RGiu
Many Friends In Minot Are Grieved.
} The following from a Des
Moines (Ia) dailv regarding
the suicide OF G. NJ. Smith. the
popular passenger conductor,
who ran into Minot for ten
years, will be lead with q great
deal OF interest by his many
} friends in Alinot. Chas. Carter.
;ln old railroad man, Just came
from Des Moines, where he saw
the lifeless, body of his old friend.
Smith had some trouble with his
family, which no doubt led him
to commit the rash act. Mr..
Smith owned a fine claim near
Norwich and q costly house and
lot at Larilnore. 1t has been
learned that he separated from
his wife. After leaving Minot he
went to Winnipeg, where he was
yard master. He was one of the
best conductors that the Great
NOTUueTu ever udu
Tired OF life and bounded by some
mystery which caused his removal from
the train service of the Great Northern
} road, &. M Smith OF Grand Forks,
! N. D., committed suicide at two o'clock
Tuesday afternoon by drinking several
ounces OF carbolic acid. The deed was
committed at the rooming house at 7O1
Park street, run by Mrs. Matte Houser.
, 1t was she who found his dead body
lying on his bed, dressed, with life ex-
tinct seemingly for nearly an hour.
Smith was stranger in Des Moines,
coming here only three weeks ago and
accepting position with the Des
Moines saddlery works. He travelled
one week, laid off during the state fair,
and this week thus far had not reported
for duty.
Two notes were left upon his mantel
stating: IF l. am lost please notify
&. M. Smith of Jefferson, Ia" The
other: "Please return my body to G.
M. Smith of Jefferson, la
FOUND BY LANDLADY.
The body of Smith when found by
Mrs. Houser naturally caused a furore
in the rooming house. The police were
at once notified and they went to the
, scene of the crime. Chief Hardin and
Detective Sims of the detective depart
ment investigated the case and found
that it was a pure case of suicide.
Smith had returned home shortly after
noon and went to his room. He there
) took bottle of poison from his pocket,
turned it carefully into a tumbler and
quaffed the fiery dose.
The burning acid coursed down his
throat, soaring everything it touched,
and his stomach was eaten, so it was
found by post mortem, to such an extent
that the entire surface was reeking
with The fiery liquid.
The body was taken to Shank's under
taking rooms at Fourth and Grand ave-
nue., and there post norton was held.
The body was turned over to Coroner
Beck, who took charge Of the case and
notified the relatives.
1t was learned that he has a sister,
Miss Belle Smith, living at 1917 Grand
avenue. She is employed by the Des
Moines Photo Supply company. A
brother, J. E. Smith, is grocer at JET
ferson and is reputed to be we'll to do.
RELEASED FROM WORK.
The suicide, it was learned from Jeffer-
son, has been visiting there all summer,
having been for some reason released
from his duties with the Great Northern
at Grand Forks. He remained in JET.
ferson two or three months, and came
to this city at that time.
Upon the person of the dead man was
found membership card in the Order
of Railway Conductors from the lodge
at Grand Forks. Mr.. Smith when found
was we'll dressed, his trousers carefully
creased and his clothing in complete ar
rangement, save that he had taken off
his coat and vest.
At Jefferson that night there was con-
siderable doubt whether the dead man
was Smith, as the description, that Of 4
man IS years Of age, slightly gray, feet
! 10 inches tall, and we'll built, did not
tally perfectly.
An effort was made last night to dis
cover the sister in Des Moines, but
Coroner Beck was unable to find, her at