Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-20

in the next two weeks, his inability to
pay of, the mortgage, and his fear that
his wife and mother would be COM
PEELED to support him, caused Edison to
became melancholy. He was cripple
and according to the statement of his
neighbors he seemed terrified with the
idea that his family would be called
upon to take care of him.
Sunday, it Is said, he received some
notification of impending financial
troubles, and Immediately became mo-
rose. Tuesday, in company with his
wife, ne went to Redondo to settle .
little account there, and when he re-
turned he retired to his room and re.
mained there until bedtime. The cou-
pie retired soon after 8 o'clock. At
l o'clock two street car men who oc-
cupy the adjoining room arrived at the
house, and from that time on all was
quiet, so that it is thought the shooting
occurred early in the night, and that
the bodies remained undiscovered until
yesterday morning.
Mrs Edison had been killed without
warning. Her body when found yester-
day morning was in the posture of
sleep. Her head rested on the pillow,
and the wound in her left ten pie
showed where the bullet had entered.
Her hands were crossed on her breast,
and the covers had not been disar-
ranged. Death had resulted instantly.
THE superb control Of the man in
his determination to end his existence
was manifest in the fact that after
killing his wife he placed the revolver
to his head and pulled the trigger
twice. The first time the hammer
clicked on the cartridge, but 1t failed
to explode, SO that the murderer was
compelled to pull the trigger a second
time before he managed to complete
the crime he had so carefully planned.
Yesterday morning the aged mother
of Edison entered the room to call the
couple to breakfast. and at that time
the discovery of the tragedy was made.
"Edson's history was one of mis-
takes. He came to Los Angeles fifteen
years ago from Oskaloosa, Iowa. He
brought his parents with him and also
his mother-in-law. These elderly peo-
pie are now left without means Of
support.
Upon his arrival in Los Angeles
Edison began to speculate in a small
way In the hope of increasing his saw
ings. He was unfortunate. His money
ran low and he engaged In railroad
work. In an accident he lost his left
leg. That was several years ago, and
his last cent was used in paying the
hospital bills.
From that time on, according to the
statements of relatives, the man was
in constant fear that he might become
a burden to his people. His wife did
all she could to arouse him from his
but he refused to listen
to her. BY hard work he managed to
save enough to invest in Redondo
lot at the time of the boom. When the
boom waned it only served to create a
greater depression Of Edson's spirits.
He then bought the rooming house
at Nc. 200 East Fifty-th third street in
the hope of turning that into profit
able business. Failure stared him In
the face. He did not have the funds
to meet the next payment, and he owed
$50 to one of his boarders. The board
er wanted the money to return east
with, and Tuesday Edison went to Re
dondo to try to sell his lot there. He
failed to make the sale. and with all
hope gone. he returned home and watt
ed for night to end his existence.
"A last letter written by Edison to
the coroner names his sister-in-law
and his uncle. who are said to have