The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-12-27
TAKES LIFE BY HANGING
Jas. p. Peterson of Center township
Hang Himself on a Telegraph Pole
near HumeSton Thursday.

JuSs . y VSCs SOu W OOuSOs bUWuSulp
Hang Himself on Telegraph Pole
near Humeston Thursday.
James p. Peterson, who for several
years has resided on farm a mile and
half north Of Leon, committed suicide
by hanging himself to telegraph pole
about three and half miles southwest
of Humeston last Thursday morning, and
although he was discovered and cut
down within five minutes after hanging
himself he never regained consciousness
and died at Humeston Saturday after
noon, to which place he had been taken
for medical attention.
The deceased would have been 4J
years old in January, and came to this
county with his wife and little boy
from Racine, Wis. in February, 1899,
having traded for the a acre farm own
ed by Frank Cook on which he made his
home. He was born in Denmark, and
has mother, three brothers and two
sisters living in the old country, but no
relatives in America except his little 10
year old son who has been living with
his grandparents at Racine since the
death of his mother about two years ago.
1t is thought that the unfortunate man
was insane at the time of committing his
rash act, and his neighbors for some
time have thought that he was mentally
unbalanced. He was a quiet reticent
fellow and did not mix with his neigh
bors. A couple of years ago he had
trouble. with his wife who left him and
returned to her parents near Racine,
Wis, and died a few months later. Since
that time Peterson has lived alone and
being quite heavily involved it is sup
posed his solitary life and worrying
over his financial affairs dethroned his
reason. 1t is also reported that he was
madly infatuated with young lady with
whom he merely had speaking ac-
quain ance and who never gave him any
encouragement whatever in the way of
receiving his attentions. This and his
other troubles worried him great deal
and he told several parties that he did
not have single friend in this country
and was going back to the old country.
His farm was incumbered for practic-
ally all it was worth and foreclosure
proceedings had been commenced. On
Monday he came to Leon and tried to
sell the equity in the farm and his per-
sonal property consisting of four horses,
several cows and farming implements to
Fred Teale, who held mortgage on
them, but Mr.. Teale refused to buy
them as he did not care to be burdened
with the trouble of caring for them and
selling them. He tried to dispose of the
property to S. A. Gates and others and
finally approached G. Nj. Axes who went
out to the farm and looked at the stuff
and made trade with him, getting the
equity in the farm for one dollar and the
sfv,s fla oil ttr,, g,
over a hundred dollars. Mr.. Peterson
telling he was going back to Denmark.
He walked to Garden Grove that night
and left his grip at Crago's restaurant.
Tuesday evening he was in Charlton
,and took supper at Mullins hotel across
from the depot. Wednesday morning
he appeared at the farm of John Throck-
morton near Derby and secured his
breakfast and Thursday morning early
he walked into Silver's hotel at Humes.
ton and ate breakfast, leaving after pay
ing his bill without placing his name on
the hotel register, He appeared at the
home OF Mrs. Smith, who lives on the old
Boyce farm about three and half miles
southwest OF Hnmeston Thursday morn
ing about $3.50 and knocked at the door.
Charles johnson, who was at work paint
ing the inside Of the house, came to the
door and Peterson said he wanted to
borrow rope, and when asked what he
wanted with it said he was going to
hang himself. His request was refused
and he went to the barn and secured a
halter to which was attached rope
and started Off with it. Mr.. johnson
went out and told him to not take
the halter and Peterson put his hand
to his hip pocket as if to draw a
revolver and ordered him to stand
back that he would kill anyone who
tried to interfere with him. Mrs.
Smith then told johnson to watch
Peterson as he was evidently crazy and
she would phone to some of the neigh
bors to come over. Peterson went on
down the railroad track probably two
hundred yards and again warned John
son not to follow him, so he went back
toward the house. About this time a
couple OF neighbors arrived and the
three men started down the track look
ing for Peterson. Just across the rail
road bridge they found him hanging to
telegraph pole, although his feet was
touching the ground. He had tied the
halter to the pole as high up as he
could reach and climbed up on some
dirt piled around the foot of the pole
and then allowed his feet to slide OFF,
but they still touched the ground. He
could not have been hanging more than
three minutes when they found him and
cut him down. He was still alive and
they tried to rcsusitate him, but could
not, and he was carried to the house
and doctor summoned fr Dm Humeston.
He was later taken to Humeston and
given every attention, but never re-
gained consciousness and died as
stated on Saturday afternoon. The
physicians who attended him said he
had rupturned blood vessel of the
brain and this caused his death.
S. A. Gates went to Humeston Satur-
day night and accompanied the remains
to Leon Sunday noon, and he was buried
in the Leon cemetery, telegram to
his father-in-law at Racine, Wis, being
answered by one instructing that he be
buried here.
When found Peterson had 5000 on