The state herald., 1909-09-17
OFFICIAL PAPER OF PHILLIPS COUNT,
Carl Stlader.

- 'N"i 'ui eiuSSuy bSCuIItu ldSl Ddl-
urday night about o'clock in the Ga
zette office building when Carl Strader,
wqom we had known as J. B. Barr un-
til that morning, committed suicide by
shooting himself in the mead. This
young man came to Wray about Decem-
ber 10 of last year and entered this of
flee, Since the present management
took charge of the paper, January !, he
had been the foreman of our mechanical
department. He came almost directly
from Tucson, Ariz., where he had been
employed in a job Office.
He was reticent and reserved and
never referred to his life prior to going
to Arizona except that he was native
of southeast Missouri. He led his
friends to believe that his parents were
dead. We knew him to be ayoung
of education beyond the common school
and not lacking in good breeding and
refinement. He had not been in our
employ long until he voluntarily inform
ed US that he had been addicted to the
use of liquor to the degree of dissipa-
ton and expressed deep desire to
brSak the habit. During the weeks that
followed. his close application to his
work and his solitary habits outside of
working hours, showed his determine
tion to overcome his weakness. These
things, with what little conversation we
had with him on the subject, aroused
our interest in him AMI we were lenient
and tried TO encourage him when he fell.
| Something like two weeks before his
y. 9TH. he informed us that he was 60
ing back to his old home in Missouri
and asked us to get man to take his
plece as soon os possible. The morning
of his death, he came to urdesk where
we were at work and asked that we do
him favor. He then told us the story
of his life and asked that we write TO
his father, whose name. he said, was J..
l.. Strader, banker in Des Arc, Mo.
II was during the recital Of his life
story that he showed his unmistakable
yearning for the love of father and
mother and the desire TO be received
once more into the home circle. At his
request, we made an appointment with
him that evening, at which time the
letter was To be written. We met him
at the Office at the appointed time and
were complying with his request of the
morning while he was in the back room
Of the building writing. what we sup
posed was letter to his frther TO he
enclosed in ours. but what proved TO be
his last message TO his mother and "a
some of his Wray friends. Medical aid
was called MS soon as the shot was fired
and coroner's jury emponeled that
night which returned verdict TO the
effect that he had come TO his death by
a gun shot wound inflicted by himself
with suicidal intent.
Because OF the many conflicting sto'
rics that have arisen concerning his life
and the causes which let to his suicide,
we give below some of the facts con
cerning his life that were obtained
from him and also from his uncle. o
prominent business man Of Denver,
who was in Wray Sunday night to in
vestigate his death. having been mott
fed by the parents upon their receiving
IN. word from Wrfy
Carl Stradcr was BON IN Christian
home with parent love and social ant
educational advantages THAT come Il
few boys. Being an industrious and en-
ergctic boy. he always sought employ
mcnt when not engaged In school work
The nature Of his fathers business com
PEELED him to seek this cmploymen
from other men. He received his frs
/ liquor Mt the age Of fourteen from III
hands Of one of these employers and, u
IL 10 often the case. he had acquire
the habit In a small degree before hi
parents knew OF his indiscrctions.
II wns not long until he had what h
himself termed an unnatural" thirs
for alcohol. Then the struggle bcgar
with the boys best nature and his dc
sire to be n credit and blessing to hi
parents, coupled with their love and nj
! fcction on one side. and n thirst ft
= that damnablc stuff that has brougf
many young man to ruin and dIsgrat
on the other. assisted, as usual, i