The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-05-24
N.W.ROBERTS ENDS LIFE
PROMINENT FORMER CITIZEN
DRINKS ACID.
HE HAD BECOME DISSATISFIED
Dead In Bed for Several Hours, the
Fact Was Not Discovered Until Last
Evening - Mr.. Roberts Planned to
Re.eneage In Business Here.
Iron Fridays Daily.l

| IRON Fridays DARYL
w. w, Roberts, for many years 6
prominent insurance man in Norfolk
ended his life yesterday by drinking
carbolic acid His body was found in
his room In the Marshall house at Z
O'Clock last evening. Roberts had re
tired to his bed to die and when found
had been dead for several hours.
The first thorough examination
made by the physician called to the
rooming house near Philip avenue and
Fourth street showed traces of carbol.
ic acid poisoning. This morning crys.
tails from the poison were found in
an upturned tumbler in closet open.
ing from Roberts room. DR.. Kindred,
coroner of Madison county, was called
TO Norfolk early this morning from
Meadow Grove. The evidence he
found to point so conclusively to sui
eide that he did not deem an inquest
necessary
Regretted Leaving Norfolk.
Mr.. Roberts left Norfolk over year
ago for Oklahoma City after conduct
ing a successful business in this city
for many years. In business at Okla
homa City for a time he left last De
comber for Nation, Ill. Mr.. Roberts
was not satisfied with his business
changes and regretted that he had
left his business in Norfolk. Brood.
ing over private troubles he took his
life in this city yesterday
Mr. Rnhprtg had hnpn Ia Nprfp1l rp
some two weeks past. He secured
room at Mrs. Marshall's home on Phil
ip avenue and announced his probable
intention of re-engagng in the insur-
ance business here. Yesterday morn
ing about 10 o'clock he returned to his
room, apparently destroyed the bottle
the poison, drank the acid |
from a tumbler and, having previous
ly disrobed, retired to his bed to die. |
He had been heard in the hall about |
this time.
Several hours passed before the
death became known. 1t was o'clock
in the evening when two women room
ing at the house becoming alarmed at
the silence in the room occupied by
Mr.. Roberts asked that his condition
De investigated. The man had not re-
Sponded to the anxious knocks on
lis door because he had lain dead
through the hours of the afternoon.
DR.. w. II. Pilger was summoned at
,nce and announced that Mr.. Roberts
lad been dead for some hours. An
of the room disclosed no
etter or final note left behind explain
tory of his death. Apparently de-
ire to conceal his act had governed.
Was in Business Here.
William W. Roberts entered into the {
insurance business in Norfolk four
cen years ago. At that time he was
tate agent for the Home Fire Insur- |
nee company. Some six years ago
e established a local insurance bust
uilt up to satisfactory dimensions g
nd was disposed of two years ago to v
. Mathewson & Co. t
At the time of his sudden death Mr.. t
oberts was carrying on negotiations C
'oking to the purchase of the real a
state business of S. w. Garvin. Mr.. p
oberts had also conferred with ID. p
athewson & Co. in regard to secur- il
g release from them that would n
ermit him to again enter the insur- v
ice field in Norfolk He was ap- b
irently of mind to carry out these
ew business plans up to within
cry short time before his death.
80 l.. a.. M
is was fifty-seven years old. Born el
Bloomington, Ind, on January &c, n
so, his early life was spent on a CT
rm Later for five years he was
lief OF police at Carthage, ILL., He
also said to have served term as NJ
eriff of Buffalo county, Nebraska. o
1891 he started into the insurance Il
siness in Grand Island.
Fifteen years ago on the day of his
friday, Mr.. Roberts and Mrs. Ella {,
ott were married at the latter's Vi
me in Creighton. Mrs. Roberts has -
en- in Norfolk for week past, max.
g her home with Mrs. Josephine Hull
1000 Norfolk avenue. A son, John N
Roberts, thirteen years old, is NJ
tn relatives at Nation, Ill. Mr.. m
'berts also leaves a daughter by an w
rlier marriage, Mrs. Minnie B. Kel- III
Was Enthusiastic Baseball Fan. h,
Mr. Roberts was a baseball enthu. or
lst. In the old days when Norfolk te
joyed the luxury of a professional W
seball team, he was invariably h,
long the leaders to organize and r,
lip the nine along in a financial way. in
knew by heart the records of pref II
nearly all the baseball players in
country and could give the batting
erage, the fielding average and the
neral characteristics, with the past b
reers of them all. With him the u
tional game was a passion and III
me of his happiest moments were
ose spent at various baseball parks
at Norfolk has owned.
Funeral services will be held at in