The daily sentinel., 1907-04-06
TAKES HIS
OWN LIFE
City Startled by Announce
ment of Suicide of Frank
J. Tibbets, the Cigar Man

Frank ]. Tibbets, for the past three
years a resident of Grand Junction
and the manager of the Ttbbets Cl-
gar company, operating a cigar store
and billiard parlor at 315 Main ST.
time during the night.
The announcement of the self
murder created quite a SENSATION
in the city this morning as Mr.. Tib-
bets was well and favorably known
and no one had any idea that he was
contemplating such a deed.
About eleven O'Clock last night Mr..
| Tibbets closed his place of business
as usual and those who were in the
store at that hour state that he seem
ed to be in excellent spirits and that
there was nothing unusual in his ac-
tions at any time during the evening
This morning shortly before five
O'Clock the japanese boy who sweeps
out and cleans up the store each
morning for Mr.. Tibbets entered the
store and walked to the rear to pre-
pare for his work. A horrible sight
met his eyes.
In one corner of the large room,
near the rear wall and close to a win
dow were two chairs arranged close
to the wall, in one, n large arm chair
sat a man with his face and body al
most covered with the folds of large
oilcloth cover used in protecting a
pool table from dust. the feet of the
man rested on the other chair. The
| Jap slightly pulled aside the oil cloth
cover and looked upon the features
of Frank j. Tibbets, cold in death.
The body was in an almost upright
sitting posture with the head slightly
dropped to one side. The face in
Isaraf
ly the end had come without suffering
and without a struggle.
The Jap boy quickly ran onto the
sidewalk and gave the alarm. Night
Marshal Wharton responded at once
and took charge of the store, few
minutes later one of the employees of
the Pastime came in and each of
these two men saw the body as it
sat upright in the chair.
The proper officials were notified
and the body was removed at once
to the undertaking establishment of
Z. A. Krohn.
There is no question but what Mr..
Tibbets deliberately killed himself
and he planned very cody and very
successfully. Near where the body
was found a gas pipe skirts the
rear wall of the room, there is a cut
bets opened this tap so that the gas
could escape freely and sitting almost
directly in front of the open tap so
shrouded his body with the big oil
cloth cover that the deadly fumes
came right up into the face as he
leaned slightly forward, II was sure
and swift way to end life.
Physicians state that he was prob
ably dead within a few minutes af
ter he took the position in the chair
as the gas so confined with the oil
cloth cover as it came up from the
pipe must have rapidly overcome the
unfortunate man. Death by asphyxia
ton is an easy, practically painless
death, the victim gradually loses con-
sciousness and the heart gradually
ceases to beat.
The undetaker found the bowels
and stomach completely inflated with
gas.
II seems that no one can assign a
reason for the rash act and the
friends and relatives of the deceased
are greatly shocked and grieved.
The deceased came to Grand juno
tion about three years ago from
Washington ID. C., where he has
wife and three children. He was
about 55 years old. 1t is said that he
met with financial reverses in Wash
ington, having at one time been a
man of considerable means, and he
decided to come west in an effort to
get n new start. He was a nephew of
Mrs. Twombly of this city and cous-
in of Mrs. JAMES 1. Hamilton. For
a time he was engaged in the car
pet and curtain business being locat-
ed in the Mesa Paint and Wall Paper
store. About fourteen months ago
Mr.. Tibbets organized the Tibbets
| Cigar company, two or three we'll
known citizens holding interests in
the business with Mr.. Tibbets. There
is every indication that the business
proved profitable. MIR. Tibbets work
ing up an excellent patronage. He
was very attentive to business.
AS far as can be learned the affairs
of the Tibbets Cigar company are in
good condition, consequently local
financial troubles could not have
caused Tibbets to kill himself.
The most plausible theory advanc-
ed is that of i'll health, the deceased
has for long time suffered from dys-
pepsia and at times has been very
| despondent over his condition.
Whether there were any domestic
troubles could not be learned. His
family has never visited him.
The deceased was usually very jov-
ial and cheerful. he was man of re-
finement and excellent education. he
was well liked and respected In the
city. The remains will be held pend
ing instructions from the family.
Only yesterday Mr.. Tibbets in talk
ing TO business man talked of GER
tain plans In connection with his busl-
ness he had for the future and at no
time or to any one did he give any
indication of desire to end his life.
| He left no note or letter.
The body was very cold when found
consequently death must have occur
red during the middle hours of the
night.