Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-20
AGE OF SUICIDE
The W.T. AL POINT

WAS w. b. ALDRlcH ONLY AZ
YEARS oLD7-IDENTIFlcATloN
HINGES ON THIS QUESTION
"BilI" AIdrich, Son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Aldrich, Early Pioneers, Left
ottumwa Years Ago-ls Thought to
be Spokane Self-Murderer.
From Wednesdays Daily.
= How old was William D. Aldrich
who committed suicide in Spokane,
Washington, December 2? Was he AZ
years old, the age given in the des-
cription sent to Ottumwa from the
western city or was he an older man?
If he was an older man, say 81 years
of age, then there can be little
doubt but that he was William D. Al
drich, son of Mr.. and Mrs. John AL
drich, pioneer residents Of this city.
This William D. Aldrich would be
today at least Sd years old. He left
Ottumwa about thirty years ago and
little has ever been heard Of him in
this city since that time. The only
direct relatives of this man now living
in this city is H. E. Bollinger, 1907
West Mill street.
On the question of age alone hangs
an almost certain Identification. Many
old residents, who knew "BilP Aldrich
state that the remainder of the des-
cription sent to Ottumwa from Spo-
kane bears out in every way the sup
position that the suicide is none other
than this former Ottumwan.
Father Was Early Pioneer
John Aldrich was one Of the first
residents of Ottumwa. He lived dur
ing the latter part of his life on North
Mclean street near the point where
Holt street. now joins that thorough
fare. At that time the place was be-
yond the clearing. trees growing all
around the little homestead of the
PIONEER. John Aldrich built it is said,
the first dam in the Des Moines river
at this point, the dam being known
for years as cold Johnny's Dam"
To John Aldrich and his wife were
born four children One of these was
William Aldrich. The other three
were daughters, all Of whom later
married and none of whom now re-
side in the city.
These daughters are still living, be.
ing Mrs. Sarah Bollinger ST. Joseph,
Mo-; Mrs. Tina Miller, Springfield,
Mo-; and Mrs. Susan Yong, St. 10
seph. Mo.
Family Removes From City.
John Aldrich, died and his wife later
married D. P. Inskeep. AT
terward the family removed to Colfax
Springs, Iowa "sBill' Aldrich went
with the family and later went to, Ne
braska. At the time he was living in
Nebraska it is said he was married
and had one child, "a little daughter
In recent years little or nothing has
been heard from him and H. E. Dol
linger, his nephew, feels certain thai
the desperate man, who two weeks
ago ended his life In the waters Of the
Spokane river, is his uncle.
Mr. Bollinger has written to his
mother, telling her all that is known
concerning the case here and 1T is
probable that the family will take
some action in trying to recover the
amount left by the suicide in one Of
the Spokane banks unless it is later
developed that the Ottumwa William
4 Aldrichs where abouts are known tc
some Of his sisters Many of the Older
settlers in this city remember the AL
drich family
Story of the Spokane Tragedy.
On December 2. a man with whom
the hand of fortune had not dealt az
1yin61xy ac IL oh q Cnn
kane river bridge and ended his life
by drowning. His body was neye,
recovered. but the man who had com
mitted the rash deed was identified a!
William D. Aldrich by George A. Eg
gleston, his landlord. Eggleson, mis-
sing his boarder, went to the police
station to seek him. Aldrich had beer
intoxicated and Eggleston thought tina
perhaps he might have been arrested
4 While at the police station he recog
nized the coat of the man who hat
been drowned as that of his forme
: boarder. Little was known Of Addriol
by Eggleston, further than that he wa
a quiet, morose man who said but lit
tie of his past. Once he remarked tina
. he came from Iowa and Eggleston wa
of the opinion that he had mentione,
: Ottumwa as the town of his earl.
!. youth.
John P. Applequist, a former OF
tumwan seeing an account of the al
fair in the press, went to see Mr.. Eg
gleston. secured description of Al
drich, and wrote a full account Of tn
tragedy to the Courier
Says Description is True One.
-. ~
, who at one time many years ago live
in the same house with John Aldricl
and his family. stated yesterday after
noon that the description of the ma
who took his own life in the western
city was identical to what he believe
the Ottumwa Aldrich's appearance
4 should be today.
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RAILROAD NOTES.
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