The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-06-29
Mrs. Elmer Garretson, nee
Edith Nordyke, Takes Her
Life by Hanging.
LEAVES LETTERS BEHIND
TELLS RELATIVES THAT SHE
WAS ALL TO BlAME-FEARED
THAT GARRETsoN WILL SUI
eide WHEN HE HEARS 1T.

Elmer Garretson, aged 80, wife or
prominent groceryman here commit
ted suicide about noon today by hang
ing herself from a rafter in the bug
by-shed at her home on North Wash
ington street. The body was found by
Fannie Middaugh, who had gone to
the buggy shed for some chicken
feed.
Although Mrs. Garretson had been
seen by the neighbors about fifteen
minutes before her body was found
she was to all appearances dead when
found The rash act was the result
of the nervous state of mind which
Mrs. Garretson was in, due to the
desertion of her by her husband.
Husband Came to Richmond.
Mr.. Garretson went to Richmond
Wednesday morning with hackman
Chas. King on business. He took with
him however, a suit case which he ex-
planned as containing a suit of cloth
ing to be cleaned.
When the evening came and he did
not return when expected, his wife
and his father and mother, Mr.. and
Mrs. Albert Garretson, became much
worried over It,. This anxiety was in
creased by a letter received by Lutte
Hinmon, clerk in the grocery, writ
ten him by Mr.. Garretson, in which
Garretson instructed him in regard to
conducting the business up to Mon
day and in which he added that he
would never return.
Mr.. Nordyke Summoned.
Mr.. Nordyke of Richmond, Mrs.
Garretson's father, was summoned.
This morning every effort to pur-
suade Mrs. Garretson to return with
her father to Richmond was to no
avail. She finally decided to go i'll
search of Garretson and on her way
to the car went to the home Of Mr..
Garretson bought her letter writ
ten to her by her husband and mailed
in indianapolis this morning. After
reading the letter in which he stated
that he was going to some hay fever
climate, she started on the cars still
undecided about following him. Civ
ing up the idea of going after him she
went to her home where the rash act
was done.
Three Letters Found.
Three letters were found later. Law
ing on the front room table. One was
addressed to her father one to Mr..
and Mrs. Albert Garretson and the
other to her husband.
The following is an extract taken
from the letter to her father:
'Dear Papa,
1t is either the grave or the asylum
Elmer and | had a misunderstanding
and 1t is all my fault and that is the
reason I can not bear it. Please don't
lay one bit of blame on Elmer. He
does not deserve it. / am wholly to
blame. Elmer has always been a good
and kind to me. If you ever see him
tell him was So sorry for any wrong
i. l did and loved him so could not
live without him"
Letter to His People.
The letter to Mr.. and Mrs. Albert
Garretson contained this exeract:
Dear Papa and Rachel:
want to thank you and Rachel for
your kindness toward me in my aw-
full affliction. Forgive me for the act
l have done but | could not help it.
I can not live without Elmer. He is
laboring under great mistake and if
/ could only make 1t right with him.
But | am afraid can't 1t NAV be
ages before he writes. Please don't
blame Elmer for anything-blame me
for it all. God knows 1t all and will
judge rightly.
Your Unworthy Daughter,
EDITH.
Act DeIiberateiys.E .Exscuted.
To all appearances the act was
very deliberately executed. The rope
was passed twice around the neck
being crossed under the chin. Mrs.
Garretson has not been in the best of
health of late being subject to severe
nervous SpeHS.
Mr.. and Mrs. Garretson were wide
~ known and well liked young peo-
pie. He is the son of Albert Garrett
son, n well to do retired farmer. and
a fine citizen. He has been engaged in
the grocery business for the last
three years.
Daughter Of M. r. Nordyke.
Mrs. Garretson was the daughter of
Mr.. NJ. t. Nordyl<e. of North 18th
street, Richmond. Mr.. and Mrs. Gar.
retson were married last August.
Nothing is known of Garretson's
whereabouts.
Many express their fears that an
other tragedy will follow when he
hears OF this one.
He was for many years valued
and trusted employe of Chris Schaf-