The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-04-21
TO DEATH
James Harter Commits Suicide.
Had Been Declared Insane.


prosperous farmer of Cedar township,
living in the vicinity of Fremont, sui
cided in the Mahaska county Jail Fri.
day night or Saturday morning, by
hanging. The man tied handker-
chief tightly about his neck. He
then passed his suspenders under the
handkerchief and tied the ends to the
cell bars overhead. He then let his
1 legs give way to make the weight of
the body hang from the improvised
moose The man died from choking
or strangulation. At
Harter was brought to the city Fri.
day afternoon from Fremont on the
Iowa Central at three O'clock and TAX
en- Immediately before the insanity ex-
aminers. He was declared insane and
commitment papers were ordered for
his admission to the state hospital at
Mt. Pleasant. The man was not vic.
| lent nor did he make objection to be-
] ing placed in the insane cell on he
second floor Of the Jail. He was quiet
during the evening and gave the turn
/
Mr.. Harter had been suffering from
dementia and melancholy continuously
through period Of five weeks or
more, and had had previous attacks of
the trouble at irregular intervals. The
1 home relations had been all that could
be desired and the man was we'll liked
in the community in which .he lived,
the family being widely known, They
originally came from Ohio, but have
been in the county through number
iof years. The deceased leaves a
widow and married daughter resid-
ing in South Dakota, and an aunt and
nephew at Fremont.
7 No reason can be ascribed for the
mental condition as he had no cause
for care nor worry. The trouble had
been growing in severity, however and
he had threatened suicide a number
Of times. The wife began to fear for
the safety of the man and made com
plant to the authorities. EXamina-
ton followed. The very thing they
sought TO avoid and prevent was car
ried out by the patient and victim OF
his own hand.
The body was found hanging from
the cell bars at six o'clock this morn.
ing and was quite cold, showing that
life had fed several hours. The body
was found by Ed Hoffman, the jailer
who Immediately called Mr.. Valentine
, and notified the coroner. The men
responded Immediately and after ex'
animation took the body down and
! gave it into the. charge OF an under
! taker. careful Examination reveal
! ed no written statement or note. Oh
: Mr.. Hoffman, who sleeps on the
same floor and near the insanity cell
heard nothing during the night. He
is a light sleeper and responds to the
slightest sound, being frequently call
ed by prisoners and, officers. He wen
:, into the mans cell at eleven O'Clock
. and found him lying. on his bunk GOV
, cred with blanket, but awake. HI
:, asked the prisoner If he desired any
!. thing, and how he felt, Harter re
piled that he was all right and wal
, comfortable. Mr. Hoffman brought {
8 cup that the man might get water a.
he desired. locked the cell door ant
retired. Harter, so far as the jaile
!, knows. made no sound and he does no
: know what time the suicide was com
;, mitted.
o With one exception none of the 9th
o er prisoners, questioned this mornint
). in regard to the man, heard any con
fusion or noise in the cell during tn
n night. They were as much surprise,
: as the jailer at what had TRANSFERRED
n One Of the Jail inmates, however. say
+. that he heard some one groan severa
times about three O'Clock this morn
;. ing. and says that he called to MI
o Hoffman at the time, but the alarm
or the noise was not heard by tn
jailer.
The body was taken to the lat
\ home near Fremont this Saturday
' afternoon. Funeral Sunday at 2:3
o'clock p. III. Interment in Fremon