The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-06
A WRECKED LIFE.
\ History of Unknown Suicide at F'r-
sens Brought to Light.

Parsons. kan, Aug. "a sequel to tns
story Of the man whose body was iouilu
hanging to a tree on Labette creek d
little ways from town q lew Wseha -"
has come from Des MONIES, Ia, IN d re-
ter from A A. NIcGarry, a prominent
LAWYER of that place. There was suffl-
cient evidence in the suicides enecls 70
make it very certain that he was W r.
Powell and il was so stated IN the as
patch sent from this place to the as
ISOLATED Press. Mr. McGarry saw inns
dispatch and recognized the name as
one that had once been an honored one
IN that part of Iowa and connected Win
his own as one Of the most prominent
law firms in Indianola, Ia, town OF
about three thousand Inhabitants, TWEEN
~ miles south of Des Moines. Mr. NC
Garry wrote to Mayor Gabriel in regard
to the matter enclosing an addressed
postal card for reply and yesterday the
mayor received the following letter from
Mr.. McGarry, who has since moved 70
Des AIoines and is one of the prominent
lawyers Of the capital city Of Iowa inc
letter is as follows:
My Dear Sir. Your postal card Of
July 30 1896, duly received and contents
noted and in reply viii say that II mas
affected me very much w. r. 6oWeii
and I were in partnership for a little
more than ten years in the practice OF
law in IndianOla. Ia. I think the part
nership began in 1877 or 1878 and ended
in 1887 or 1888. He became so dissi-
pated at that time that it was impOsSi-
bic to do business with him. He had the
three great INSTRUMENTATION, prOsti-
tuition and gambling At the time We
quit business he was an inVeterate gam
bier After that. however, he braced up
and lived moral life, st least in a de-
gree. This continued for six or seven
years. He left IndianOla as delegate
to the Christian FndeavOr association
then being held in New York City
There he became intoxicated and was
robbed by some woman Of the town and
was extensively advertised throughout
the United States as a Hbertine and
drunkard. From this he never recover
ed. He kept sinking lower and lower
until four years ago I ordered him oui
of my office and told him never to re-
turn and he never did.
However, Notwithstanding all this
we have under consideration among
us. and I mean by US, a few of his old
friends who knew him twenty-five
years ago the bringing of his body
back to IndianOla for burial. The eX-
pense of this we have agreed to divide
among ourselves and we would be
pleased if YOU would advise us as to
the law regarding the removal OF
bodies from the state. His own people
who claim that he has robbed them.
will not have anything to do in assist
knew him twenty-five years ago, do not
feel that the body ought to remain
where it is.
"A travelling man from this place
saw him a few days after Decoration
day in one of the towns near your
place and recognized him. HIS said he
appeared outcast and forlorn. but he
did not make himself known to the
travelling man if he recognized him.
Mr.. Powell was at one time one of the
most prominent men in the central
part of Iowa. He had a splendid law
practice, was mayor of IndianoIa for
several years. was prosecuting attor-
ney, was a member of the state legis-
lature. was trusted and honored Of
men. It is the memory of his services
that makes us feel that we ought to
make some effort to recognize him as
he was Yours resDectfullv-A A
McGarry.''
Mayor Gabriel has replied to Mr..
McGarry and it is probable that ar