The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-04-29
ELAN COMMITTED SUICIDE
SUCH WAS THE VERDICT OF COR
oNER's JURY IN DIES MONIES.
Travelling Mans Dependency ove'
Woman and Nervous Ailment
Held Responsible.

Il
j Des Mpines, April 27.-Death b,
suicide was the final verdict in the
case of NJ. M. Elan, the travelling mar
who was found with, bullet in his
brain week ago Sunday in his room
at the Kirkwood. g..
1t was the old story of wine and
women, coupled with the banerul in
f1uence of the nervous disease which
| finally caused fit of melancholy and
then lself-murder, according to the
evidence. Dts :vqHH4.a y @., ~.
The testimony of R. E. Owens, a
representative of he American Lith'
| ograph company, proved without
doubt that there had been a woman
in the case, and that Elan had been
1 spending considerable sums of money
on her for some time. According to
the testimony of ]. X. Love, who was
with Elam a short time before the
suicide, there was an appointment
made for that evening. This was
confirmed by Owens, who remembered
that Elan had said: ..'E =.
Il have spent a couple of hundred
on her during the last few days. |
can't afford it. have got TO get rid
of her.
Seemed to be Worried.
Although Elan was under the in
fiuence of liquor at this time, as was
also the other man who was win Ine
party, his anxiety over his nervous
affection and over the affair with the
woman seemed to prey on his mind
continually. r..
That Marie Adams, as she called
herself, was the woman in the case,
was proven by the testimony of both
Owens and Love, although the for
mer did not know her last name, and
was only introduced to her by chance.
Love was not in the room with any
other, person than Elan, and his tes-
timony indicated that on Sunday af-
ternoon Elan was in a state of des-
pondency which seemed to have TAX
en- possession of him when he had
started drinking more than a week
before. He had repeatedly announc-
ed his intention of taking his own life
and Love had endeavored to cheer
him up, and it was the latter who had
put the hot towels on the head OF
Elan, which were afterward found
scattered around the room.
The testimony of d. E. McCugh,
the hotel clerk at the Kirkwood, and
also of Henry Hill, the colored waiter,
showed that Elan had registered for
single room, and that he had order
ed refreshments for one only. When
the waiter brought the tray to the
door of the room it was slightly ajar,
and the smell of powder smoke con-
firmed the statement which was made
to him a. he. approached the door,
that someone shot himself back
there" As to VINO made this re
mark, Hill did not recall. Owens
testimony showed that neither the
other man in the party or the woman
had been seen after the investigation
was started on Sunday evening.
Women Not Responsible. y
The women, who were said to have
been in the. hotel for a few minutes
jus after the tragedy, were told to
leave Immediately. and after this
Owens testified that no more was
seen of either the Adams woman OF
of the Mrs. Parker, who is said &c
have registered at the Kirkwood al
the same time as Elan. j
From the fact that there was appar
emily no motive for robbery. and thai
there seemed to have been no heated
Alteration between Elan and the
woman, or between him and the
other man, whose name is still un
known. the apparent signs of a strug
gle were attributed to the state o.
mind in which Love testified to have
found Elan, only two hours before
The tragedy. ~.
Undoubtedly Elan was irresponsi
ble," said Love. and he had told me
twice that he intended to Kill him
self, If he could not rid himself O
his disease,
The relatives of the dead man, /
son and an uncle, declared themselves
satisfied with the verdict and wer'
convinced that Coroner Newlen hat
! done everything possible TO clear thu
matter up.