Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-09-21
LIB. WILLEYSUICIDES.
SHOOTS HIMSELF THROUGH HEART
WITH A WINCHESTER rifle.
In Fit of Insanity He Suddenly De-
fermineS to End His Life. His
Wife and Mother Frustrated Over
the Rash Act. Piano Agent Has
an Experience.

Lemuel B. Wiley became suddenly in.
sane between four and five o'clock Mon
day afternoon, and committed suicide by
shooting himself through the heart with
1890 Winchester rifle, at his home,
SO4 East First street.
Wiley was about SO years OF age, and
had resided in Aberdeen for the past
eighteen years. He had been committed
TO the insane asylum several times dur.
ing that period. but for the past six or
seven years had acted quite nationally,
and his friend, thought his cure com
plete, until the fatal attack of Monday.
He had just negotiated the purchase
of piano from an agent named II. l..
Toles, with whom he went to the railroad
depot, examined the piano and signed a
contract for its purchase. He suggested
that Mr.. Toles accompany him home
where he would make the first payment
of $25. On the walk to the Wiley resi-.
dence from the depot nothing in his con-
versation or behavior indicated that his
mind was not all right, other than he
talked despondenty OF his affairs. Mr..
Toles tried to encourage him by relating
the experience Of Senator Stewart, of
Nevada, who lost his fortune and was
now, at the age OF 7S, about to build an.
other.
On the way to the house Wiley stopped
at drug store and bought pint bottle
OF whisky, which he carried home. When
they reached the gate OF his dwelling
Wiley remarked that "it was all up with
him." and invited roles into the house.
Asking him to sit down in the front
room, Wiley went into the kitchen.
Toles. not being able to see Wiley from
his seat, arose and looked into the kitch-
Ell, where he saw Wiley with the bottle
to his lips drinking about one.half the
whisky.
After drinking he reached for his rife,
which was in canvas case, and, placing
his hand on the knob OF the side kitchen
door, asked Toles if he wished to shake
hands and bid him good bye. Toles
said, "Where are You going?" Wiley
replied, II am going to kill myself"
Toles' first impulse was to grapple with
him and try to prevent the deed, but
being just out of the hospital himself,
and realizing the danger Of single
handed wrestle with mad man with a
loaded rife, he rushed from the house to
procure help if possible.
The only person in sight was a gentle.
man on the opposite sidewalk, to whom
he hurriedly explained the situation in
the Wiley house, and before his tale
was completed rifle shot rang out and
it was evident that Wiley had made
good his threat to end his life. Toles
ran up town and notified Marshal Car
ter, who at once went to the house.
Upon entering he found Wiley living
dead on his back on the kitchen floor,
shot through the heart. The coroner was
notified, and he decided that no inquest
was necessary. The funeral took place
from the late residence at O'Clock this
afternoon, uader the auspices of the
Modern Woodmen and the Lincoln An.
nuity Union, OF which he was member.
The aged mother and wife OF Mr..
Wiley are Frustrated over the mad act
of their son and husband, and have the
sincere sympathy OF their friends in this
deep afflction.
Wiley was plumber and tnsmith by
trade, and was quite musician, having
played with the Aberdeen Fire Depart
ment band for several years.