The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-28
POND WAS QUEER.
Topeka Boy Who Killed Himself
Probably Deranged.
Did Many Peculiar Things at
College.
BURIED HIS GOLD.
When Warned Brought Money
to Kansas.
Condition Attributed to Over
work and Study.

The following particulars of the sui
eide of Professor Raymond H. Pond,
formerly of Topeka, a notice of which
appeared in Wednesdays State Jour
nal. are from Texas papers:
College Station, Texas, July 26.-Dr-
Raymond Haines Pond, aged SO years,
plant pathologist of the Texas AgrlcuI-
turaI Experiment station, shot himself
while on the front lawn of his resi-
dence at College Station about II
o'clock last night. the body being
found at o'clock this morning by
George Easter, a negro janitor, who
happened to be passing.
The shot was heard by large num-
her of campus residents. but no at
tention was paid to it, the exact loca-
tion NOT being determined by the
sound. The body lay in the shade or
tree Those who passed the place
afterward did not see the body. This
morning when George Easter. a negro
ianitor, passed on his way to his work.
he saw the body, and at once notified
Captain Andrew Moses and Sheriff
Conley and Justice McGhee were sum-
moned for an inquest
on the dining table in his home
there were neatly arranged articles
including his insurance policies IN an
envelope marked For susie, his
pocketbook containing about nineteen
dollars. his bank book, showing bal
ance Of about two hundred dollars. his
wife's visiting cards in the box in
which they came from the stationer's,
and a small card case.
About the neck of the dead man was
pink ribbon. on which were hanging
his wife's engagement ring, solitaire
diamond and her wedding ring en-
graved Raymond to Susie, June IA
IL"
The bullet was fired from a thirty
eight caliber pistol, and entered Che
right temple. The body fell face up
and the pistol fell under his lower
limbs and was hidden until the body
was turned over. There was one empty
chamber.
Inside the home. a pretty cottage
shaded by china trees and lowered
with purple morning glory vines, the
FIRST Corners found evidence that DR.
Pond had shot himself. On the table
in the dining room, side by side, he
had laid a long envelope containing
life and fire insurance policies. his
money purse containing cash and jew
elry. his bank book and other persona
Across the face OF long envelope
he had written with pencil the words
For Susie"
He came to A. and NJ from Kansas {
little over year ago. About fiv'
weeks ago he married Miss Susie Cor
ham. daughter of Mr.. and Mrs JOIN
Csorham of Waco. Three or four day!
say.
Buried His Money.
Dr.. Pond betrayed eccentricity il
various ways during his residence here
For instance, his permanent salary be
ing 81. 600 yearly. payable in MONTH.
installments. it was for several month
his practice to get gold from Bryan
bank for his pay check He then burie
the gold secretly in the college grounds
A member of the faculty who hear
about the burying of his gold warne
Dr. Pond against the practice and ad
vfsed him TO deposit his money in bank
Dr. Pond then bought Kansas Cit
exchange for $500 and took 1t person
ally up to deposit in Kansas bank
The young widow was notified by tele
graph of the tragedy. An inquest held
at the house this morning returned z
finding in accordance with the facts
The tragedy overshadows the proceed
fnEs of the Texas Farmers Congress nov
in session here. Many of the 1,500 dele
gates reported present have determined
to leave for their homes tonight
Mrs. Pond, the young wife of Dr. Ray
mond H. Pond who killed himself at Col
lege Station, attributes his action to men
tai arrangement. 1t recently develops
that he was suffering with mental trouble
due perhaps to nervous breakdown from
overwork and study. He was a man Q
very studious nature. jealous in nj
undertakings, and of the most exemplar
habits. He and his wife seemed to b
extremely happy at times. but it is state
that attacks would come when Prof Pom
was not himself at all. Mrs. Pond unde
the circumstances began to worry owe
her husbands condition and returne
home
Widow Is Frustrated.
Waco. Tex. July 25.-The news Of tn
death Of Prof. Raymond Fl. Pond. plan
pathologist at the Agricultural and Me
chanicaI college. cast a gloom over thi
city. a. his widow, Mrs Susie Gorhan