The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1907-07-18
v. {. lUNSF0RO BY
CARB0L|C ACID

Prominent Lumber Man Comes
Temporarily Insane Over III
Health and Financial Troubles
and Ends His Life at Dac0tah
Hotel.
William e. Lunsford, a promi.
nent lumberman of this city.
|.committed suicide at Room 9 at
the Dacotah hotel about the
noon hour Sunday. by swallow
ing the contents of a three
ounce bottle of carbolic acid.
The mans lifeless form was
found by c. X. Low, day clerk
of the hotel about six O'Clock
that evening when he attempted
to rouse the man from his SUM-
ber.,
Mr.. Lunstord, until several
months ago managed the Meyer
Lumber yard in Minot but on ac-
count OF failing health had to
give up the position. He was
unable to do any work all win
ter and was confined to his resi-
dence on Fifth street until few
weeks ago. He had been a keen
sufferer OF kidney trouble and it
is owing to this fact no doubt
that his mind became weakened
and he decided to leave this
world of care.
That he had planned the sui
eide for some time is evidenced
by the fact that last Friday he
went to the Dacotah hotel, with
the avcwed inteution Of taking
his life. He entered the hotel at
about six O'Clock in the morning
secured a room and left orders
with the clerk to be called at two
O'Clock p. m. Heprobably plan
ned on committing the rash deed
at that time, but perhaps con-
Guided that he wanted to look
once more on the face of his wife,
family and friends before he took
his departure from this earth all
together. He was called at 2
o'clock and responded, coming
down soon to eat his lunch. He
sat about the lobby for some
time and told the clerk that he
would settle the Till later, as he
would need the room again soon.
He came to the hotel again
Sunday morning about the same
hour and engaged Room 8. ask
ing to be called at one O'Clock.
Before he went to his room he
went out and stepped into the
postoffice, mailing two letters.
One of the letters was addressed
to his wife, which explained what
he was about to do. He stated
that owing to his financial trou-
.bles and i'll health, it would be
better for him to depart from
this life, but that he wanted his
family to lead Christian lives
and meet him in heaven. He in
formed his wife that his body
could be found at Room 8 at the
Da.otah hotel. The letter was
received by Mrs. Lunsford Mon
day morning, several hours after
she learned thas her husband
had passed away.
After engaging the room, Mr..
LunsfOrd went to it and never
came out alive.
A chambermaid entered the
room about eleven o'clock and
found MIR. Lunsford sitting on
the edge OF the bed, no doubt
just ready to take thefatal dose.
She excused herself saying that
she did not know that there was
anyone in the room. He said
that was all right.
At one O'Clock, Mr.. Low tried
to arouse the man, but recelv-
ing no reply, concluded that the
man was asleep and left. Atsix
O'Clock seeing nothing OF NJ.
Lunsford, Mr.. Low again went
to the room anG knocked. Again
he received no response and then
stepped onto a chair and looked
over the transom. Even then he
did not dream that the man had
committed suicide but thot he
was sick, so crawled over the
transom. Taking the man by
the arm, he was terrified tolearn
that he vas dead.
Mr.. Lunsford was lying peace
fully on the bed, his shoes, coat,
vest, collar and tie off. By his
side was a glass into which he
had poured the acid. Later the
three ounce bottle was found un-
der the bureau.
Coroner Ekrem being out OF
the citv, Judge MURRAY was nc.