Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-13

JUMPS FROM A STEAMBOAT
And Finds Watery Grave in Long
island Sound "DeviI of Debt"
Hounded Him Wheeler Known
Here Thru Criminal Record, in De-
fraudine the Strains, of LeGrand.

The tragic end of checkered ca
announcing the suicide osaszs.v. DR.. A
]. Wheeler. formerly of LeGrand, in
there. and under the guise of pastor
and spiritual adviser, succeeded in vic
timizing Mrs. Caroline Strain, an aged
woman, and her husband, out OF $1,000
practically all their savings. Wheeler
was in Jail in this city several months
and during that period crooked deal
ings. in which he had figured. were
reported from different points to +. Z.
Northup, then county attorney.
Jumped From a Steamer.
Wheeler adopted drowning as s
method Of ending his life. and jumped
from the steamer Hartford. on which
he was a passenger, into the cold wat :
ers OF Long Island sound, at a point
near Essex, Conn. In note left by
Wheeler he blamed his act on the
devil of debt which he claimed had
been bounding him for twenty years.
The act was committed last Monday
night and is told OF by the New York
Herald as follows:
Goes About It CooIly.
Laying the blame for his suicide
upon the devil of debt DR.. A. j.
Wheeler, proprietor OF a sanatorium at
Cornwall-in- Hudson. Jumped into
the sound from the steamboat Hart
ford on her trip from New York to
Hartford Monday night. Preparations
for the suicide were made with the
greatest GOODNESS and nicely by Or.
Wheeler
when the Hartford reached the end
of her run yesterday morning the pas
senger ticket for room No. "a was
missed. In the stateroom a valise,
overcoat,. collar and cuffs lay on the
berth. The window overlooking the
water was open. To the coat a dol
lar bill and note were pinned. The
latter read:
"'Whoever finds these things, please
ask the captain to take them to New
York office, pier 10. and telegraph c.
Arthur Ackerly, Cornwall-on-H Hudson,
New York, to come and get them and
identify the owner. I have jumped
overheard because must die tonight
The money was evidently left to
pay the expense OF telegraphing. The
words I must die tonight We're
heavily underscored.
Another communication addressed
to DR.. Wheeler's parents read:
Please forgive me for adding this
sorrow to you,,. but cannot help it..
You know for twenty years the devil
Of debt has been on my heels and 1
have given up. While can't tell what
my courage will do, 1t is my plan to
jump overheard. into the river near
one ever had q better father, nothe'
sister and brother-i n-law than !, but I
am doomed forever. It's best. Don't
mourn for me. Be cheerful: Live for
the rest Be kind to Lois and the
children, God is good. / know MOTH
ing of the future
Several other letters addressed to
various persons also indicated that DR..
Wheeler had committed suicide be-
cause of financial troubles. His papers
show that he had lectured and trav-
eled extensively in the west. One en-
velope contained lock Of hair, held
together with a bow of yellow ribbon.
'Tn Newburg 'Dr. Wheeler was sup
posed to be prospecting. His sanitarium
is conducted especially for the cure Of
cancer cases. He leaves a widow and
several children"
History of WheeIer's Local Career.
DR.. Wheeler's local career, While
comparatively brief, was full Of trou-
BILE. He came to LeGrand in 1903. aft
er having been here on one or two oc-
casions, lecturing and debating in the
interests Of temperance, as a campaign
speaker in the interests Of the state
prohibition central committee. He had
no sooner settled in LeGrand before he
began laying plans to secure money