Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-05
DRINKS LAUDAN UNI
Wife Of Suicide Tells story-says
Husband Had Violent Temper
Couple Had Frequently Had Domes-
tic Troubles-Took Six Ounces Of
Poison.

want to die" said Robert Wilmouth
yesterday afternoon about o'clock
Just before drinking six ounces of
laudanum, which afterwards caused his
death. The young man died last night
about 8 O'clock despite the efforts of
the physicians. The funeral will be held
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock from
the residence, 622 East Main street.
Dr. T.. \. Stoltz, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, will conduct the
services. Interment will be made in
Dahlonega.
Wilmouths rash act was induced by
domestic trouble. Mrs. Wilmouth said
this morning: 1--WE have had trouble
before. He has left me several times
and has then come back. He left me
In the winter and went to Abingdon.
When he came back each time he
would promise to do better, but 1t
would be just the same.
Wife BIames Temper.
He was not a drinking man. He
drank little, perhaps, but that was
not 1t. It was just his temper that
caused the trouble. Last Saturday I
left his and went to my home, two
miles from town. This was the first
time had ever left him. I came to
town yesterday on business. Mrs. R..
w. Huston, $40 Birch street, went up
town with me. He must have known
that was with Mrs Huston, for when
we returned to her house about 1
4 o'clock he was there He wanted me
to come back to him, but I would not
promise. Then he threatened to get
something and put himself out of the
way. Mrs Huston said If he did not
| stop talking like that, she would tele-
phone to all the drug stores not to let
him have anything
She. thought that that would scare
him out of doing anything rash.
He went away then, and soon after
wards came back. From what know
now, he must have gone right to. the
drug store and got the poison and
| then returned at once to the Huston
| house.
Threatens to Kill Himself.
He again threatened to kill himself,
and Mrs. Huston told him if he
4 did not stop those threats she would
1 have him arrested. He said: It's
too late now. l got it in my pocket
and he pulled the bottle out. l re-
member it was done up in red paper.
Mrs. Huston ran after him. She
said: What is that, whisky Then
he started to drink it, He took two
drinks at the bottle before Mrs. Hus-
ton could get to HIM, to knock the bot
tie out Of his hand. He was just TAX
ing the third drink when she took the
bottle away from him.
"He was then out in the street in
4 front of the house. He turned around
and came back into the house and
kissed me and said Good bye, am
! gone and started for this house.
II watched him go and as he turned
on to Vine street, he stopped and
looked back.
"He came on up here to the house,
4 and told Mrs. Burton what he had
done She summoned the police and
the physician, who attended my hus-
band. I did not think that he would
do anything like this, and even after
he had taken the poison, I could not
realize that it was all true. l had no
idea that it was fatal, until they came
after me about 8 o'clock.
| Was Young Man.
Wilmoutfl was at the time of his
| death, SO years old. He has resided
in this city since boyhood. During
later years he has filled a
number of different positions
Since the middle of April he has
worked at the grocery store Of Frank
Gibbons on East Main street He and
his wife had been married for eleven
years and have one child living, a
daughter, Eta Ellen, who is 10 years
old.
Told Story to Friend.
I 1t was to Mrs. Amanda Burton, 62O
!. East Main street, that Wilmouth told
) his story just before medical assist.
ance reached him yesterday. Shortly
: after dinner he came to Mrs. Burton
and told her of his trouble. He said
that he expected his wife would be
at the house during the afternoon to
get some of her belongings that were
there, and as Mrs. Burton and Mrs
Wilmouth were quite friendly, he was
sure that Mrs. Burton would see her
He said: when she comes you tele
phone to the store fer me and will
come over and talk with her.
; Mrs. Burton tells in this manner ot
I the subsequent events: about Z
o'clock Mr. Wilmcuth came to INV
, door and called me. / went tc
the door and he said: ITS
!. no use; have been down tc
the house and my wife is rather indif
ferent. Ny life is for her and if she
I won't livefwith me. want to die ]
have got il in my pocket now. guess