The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-25
Gail Grouse, Eaton Young Man
Who Got in Trouble in Rich
mond for Forgery, Suicided
Yesterday.
MAKES FINAL APPEAL
TO MISS COTTINGHAM
But She, Scorning Him for the
Crime He Had Committed,
Refused to Answer and His
Death Resulted.
palladium Specially


Eaton, O.. Feb. 25.-Despondent over
being Tilted by Miss Eva Cottingham
as a result of an unfortunate forgery
affair in Richmond, last fall, Gail
Grouse, aged u. committed suicide las!
evening, at the home of his mother
Mrs. Mary Grouse, East High street, by
inhaling the contents of four ounce
bottle Of chloroform, which he pro
cured in the afternoon at West Alexan.
dria.
Hoping for a reconciliation, young
Grouse informed his former sweetheart
during the day of his intentions. but
on receiving no word from her, he evi
IDENTIFY saw no future pleasure in life
for himself, and carried out his threat
His death Is unusually sad. There had
been much interest manifested in him
by influential citizens of this place, as
the boy was the sole means of support
of his mother, his father having de-
serted the family when young Grouse
was baby.
Was Just Dependency.
No explanation for his rash act is
given by friends other than despond-
ency over being Tilted by his sweet
heart, who believed him innocent OF
the crime of forgery in Richmond, un-
til he confessed. He had been paying
attention to the young woman, who Is
about 10 years old, and a daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Cottingham, both
of whom are we'll known in this city,
for several months.
Last fall, either in the latter part OF
November or early in December
Grouse went to Richmond, put up at
the Westcott hotel. and in payment for
his lodging presented a check which
was a clever forgery.
The amount of the check was for So
and after securing the money, he re-
turned to Eaton, where he spent it on
paying outstanding grocery and coal
bills. He was apprehended and re-
turned to Wayne county authorities fol
prosecution. but they sympathized with
him, and on the earnest plea of Eaton
friends, he was placed under the pro
baton of Judge Davis, of the Preble
county probate court.
Desperately in Love.
Until Grouse confessed, Miss Cot
tingham refused to believe him guilty
but her misplaced belief in the young
mans innocence resulted in her hav-
ing nothing more to do with him
Grouse, desperately in love, was not
strong enough to recover from the
punishment meted out by his sweet
heart. He lost interest in his work
and in his effort to support his mother
It was common gossip among those in
terested in his case, that he was suffer
ing fro ma severe attack of desponden
cy.
His entire efforts seemed to be to re
gain the affections of Miss Cotting
ham. and on frequent occasions lurked
in the vicinity of her home, that he
might obtain Sight OF her. These at.
tentions resulted in a charge being
ordered him to refrain from visiting
the vicinity of the Cottingham resi-
dence. unless on business.
The nature of the note written to
Miss Cottingham, yesterday. is no.
known. but his friends presume that ii
was an appeal for forgiveness. There
was no intimation given to his friends
that he contemplated the rash act and
upon his return from West Alexandria
he seemed in as good, if not better
spirits, than had characterized his de-
meanor. previous to his visit. He re-
tired at the usual hour and this morn
ing was found dead in bed by his moth
err the empty vial OF chloroform near
by. The funeral arrangements have
not been made, but it is probable the
funeral will be held Sunday afternoon
and the burial will be in the cemetery
near here.