Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-31
JOHN L. cHILDs. WELL KNOWN
BRAKEMAN, AFTER INTERVIEW
WITH WIFE ENTERS BED ROOM
AND SHOOTS SELF
CORONER'S INQEEST
ON THIS AFTERNOON
JURY HEARS STORY OF WIFE AND
EXAMINES BODY TO FIND THAT
NO POWDER STAINS WERE
LEFT-No VERDICT REACHED.

Leaving his wife for few moments
with a request that she hasten the
evening meal, as he expected to be
called out on the road, John L
Ch1lds, Burlington brakeman, liv-
ing at 612 East Main street, went into
the bed room and shot himself
through the head, dying Instantly
Childs was not Respondent. His fam
lily life was happy, and no cause,
whatever can be assigned for the
rash deed.
Home Life Happy.
His domestic relations are said to
have been happy and nothing In the
home life would lead to the belief
that he harbored the thought of self
destruction, A short time before the
fatal shot was fired he told his. wife
that he was going to go back up town
but she requested him to stay home
with her. He then asked her to cook
some oysters that we're in the kitten
en- and prepare supper. He went into
the bedroom when his wife left 20
prepare the meal.
Mrs. Childs seemed to feel that all
was not just right and entered the
bedroom asking her husband what
he was doing. He replied that ne
was getting ready to take sleep
after supper, as he must have some
rest If he should be called
to go out on his turn as brake
man. Mrs. Childs had returned to
the kitchen when she was sur
prised by the report Of pistol.
Rushing into the bedroom she found
her husband PROSTATE on the floor
with the blood streaming from a bull
let wound in his head.
Wife Calls Assistance.
Mrs. Cnilds' Immediately summoned
help, calling loudly to William Sanford
who lives In the east half Of the house
with them, Sanford responded i'm.
mediately to find Mrs, Childs' in hys.
terics.
Mrs. Sanford, meanwhile, summoned
DR.. ]. B. Wilson. who was passing at
/ the time and the physician went into
the house and examining the body
pronounced life extinct. Chief Of Pc.
lice Gallagher. Coroner O'Neil, and DR.
| Williams were then called and made
an examination. securing evidence for
the inquest that was held during this
morning and afternoon. Among the
articles found on the person of the
dead man was SO calibre revolve,
containing one discharged cartridge
and five that were unused, one Of
which was struck by the hammer Of
the gun but failed to discharge.
No Trace of Powder.
The appearance of the wounds
showed no powder burns and would in
dictate that the fatal shot was free
| from pistol held close to the head.
The course Of the bullet ran straigh
somewhat to the fore of the left ear
1t made its exit through the right sid
of the head about the temple.
!. Childs had intended to go to Rus
sell yesterday, accompanied by his wifi
and went to the office Of the trainmas
ter to secure passes for them. but up
on learning at the yard office that hi
turn was third to go out on a trip a
brakeman, they abandoned the ide
Of going to Russell.
| Three Years Married.
He left his home three times durin
the day to go up town to make som
purchases, buying some under cloth
ing and a new shirt on the second tri
third time it was about Z p. m. H
went in the front door and locking
after him he asked his wife if she wer
angry with him and began to cry, say
ing he was feeling badly.
Mr.. and Mrs. Childs were marie
at Russell September A. 1904, and hav
been living at the house at 612 Eas
Main street for the past six week
Childs was 81 years old. The coro
ner's jury has not finished Its DELHI
erations.