The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-10-14
GUT HIS THROAT
WITH A RAZOR
Roy Blair Committed Suicide Mon
day Evening
DESPONDENT AND UNBALANCED
Had Acted Queeriy For Two or Three
Days-Leaves a Wife and Fam
lily Now Living at Knox
willie, Iowa.

Roy Blair, aged about thirty years,
4 collar maker employed with the Os.
kaloosa Saddlery company, suicided
Monday evening by cutting his throat
with a razor. The self-murder was
committed at the residence of William
Nicola, No. PA Third Ave. West,
where he had rented room earlier in
he evening. Mrs. Nicola in entering
the room to fix the bed, came upon
the body. She notified the officers anG
in response Chief of Police Gochee
and Coroner j. c. Barringer went to
investigate. The body was removed
10 the McCurdy mortuary.
Blair had lived at Knoxville. where
ne has a wife and three children. He
came to Oskaloosa about three weeks
ago and applied at the sadulery factory
for work. He was given a position on
collars, claiming to be an expert and
ne proved a capable workman. He
made about fifteen dollars last week
and it is said he had diSsipated the
entire amount. A room mate stated
that ne acted Queerly Saturday night
and imagined some one was after him.
he sent a rambling letter to Chief
o. Police Gochee Saturday night, writ
ten in a disconnected, incoherent man
ner, that shows his mental condition.
Mr.. Gochee did not know from whom
the letter came and was still investt
eating the matter when he heard OF
The mans suicide. Blair went to Mr.
Jackley. manager of the Saddlery Co
and complained about the officers and
a crowd being after him and trying
to railroad him through" to get a
reward. He said someone had injur'
ed a woman and they were after him
md he was entirely innocent. He al
so asked to be advanced some money
10 send to his wife at knoxville. Mr.
Jackley refused to give the man any
cash, but stated that if he would &C
back to work and stay mat afternoon
and the next day he would advance
money to the wife, sending it to heI
a. Knoxville, so she could come tc
O3kaloosa. Blair applied at the board
ing house of Mrs. Black, No. 1903 South
| B street., about FIVE o'clock last even
| ing, seeking room and board. Mrs
| Black had no accommodations anC
sent him to Mrs Nicola who had some
rooms for rent. He came to the house
about $50 o'clock, stating that ne de
sired a room for a number of weeks
! that he worked at the saddlery fac
tory, intended to bring his wife ant
children here from Knoxville anC
would desire to keep them at the place
until he could get house. Mrs. Nj
cola stated that she had accommoda
! tons for them.
Blair did not give any money IL
! payment of the room, saying that ht
would pay next Saturday. Having
made the arrangements he left the
| house, returning in less than an hou
! and went up stairs to his room. Moth
| ing further was heard of him and Mrs
Nicola thought he had gone out again
| She took a pair of blankets to thC
room and called. Receiving no repl!
! she opened the door and put the blan
! kets inside the door. When she re
turned to make the bed she carried {
! lamp and saw the PROSTATE form OF
the floor lying at the front OF a dress
er with the face in pool of blood. 4
razor lying near explained the affai
and Mrs. Nicola went to her phon'
and summoned officers. She did no
know the mans name and his identit!
was disclosed to the coroner by let
| ters and cards addressed to him.
One of the postals was a pathetic
appeal from the wife, written iron
! Knoxville. 1t stated that she hat
spent her last cent and wanted n
know what she could do with the chill
| dren.