The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-03-07
HE ONCE LIVED HERE.
James W. Davenport Was Former
Mahaska County Resident.

Concerning the tragic ieath of a
former resident of Mahaska county,
the Mount Pleasant Republican of q
recent date says.
"On Thursday, February Z, James
w. Davenport of Libertyville, Iowa,
was driving a horse hitcned to a
two-wneeled cart. The horse be.
came frightened and ran away. Com
ing to hedge fence he jumped over,
the harness broke, leaving the cart
caught in the fence; but the driver
followed the horse over the fence
and was thrown violently upon the
frozen ground, still holding the lines.
He felt badly shaken up, but thought
of no Serious injury.
Having decided to leave the farm,
Mr.. Davenport started the next day
on a trip to seek new location
He told his wife, il not suited near
er, he might go into Tennessee or
further south, in which event he
would not return for several weeks.
HE started with near 500 in cash,
two drafts, and the following letter
for Identification: Below is the sig
nature Of ]. w. Davenport, to whom
we nave issued drafts as follows: No.
1898 for $500 and No. 1929 for $780,
This was signed by himself, certified
to by the cashier and bore the seal
Of the Libertyville Savings Bank.
HE went first to Birmingham,
thence to Ft. Madison, and on Mon
day, 18th, to Keokuk About p. m.
he registered at hotel and engaged
supper, room and breakfast. After
supper he retired to his room and IN
dressed for bed. Then what happen
ed in mis- system Did something
strained and weakened by that fall,
give way Did an injured spine con-
fuse mis- nerve centers? Did a blood
vessel break in his brain? Or did an
hallucination from some other cause
beset him? Something went wrong.
In his distress MS thoughts turned
homeward, and he wrote this brief
note to his wife: Sadie, it makes me
crazy to think that l have all this
money when you and the boy will
need it so bad
Crazy he surely was. He left that
wife and son in a comfortable home,
with plenty of fuel and provisions and
500 in money. But he imagined mis-
family destitute and himself power.
less to assist them. What other ag.
onizing faIcies passed through this
unfortunate mans disordered brain,
we know not, but it ended in a pistol
snot through his temple. His money
and watch being undlsturbed pre-
cludes the idea of murder for gain ny
another. "sn.. 49, -'t ''. :. e
"Mr. Davenport was a graduate of
the Iowa Wesleyan university and of
the law department of the State uni
versity, and was a member of the
Methodist church. He was a man
universally respected in his commua-
ity for mis- integrity of character and
his genial disposition. He had a
wife and son whom ne dearly loved,
was in fair financial circumstances
with no debts, was not quite 40 years
of age, of strictly temperate habits,
AID previous to his fall, was in good
health. That such a man, with so
much to live for, would in his right
mind take his own lire, is incredible
He was not himself. He was derang
ed as the result of his accident. He
was alone with no friends to protect
him from himself
Nothing but the deepest sympathy
can be felt for the unfortunate man
and ais sorrow stricken family"