The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-11
TAKES OWN LIFE IN
MOUNTAIN SOLITUDE
Body of Charles Edward NC
Elrath Is Found in Emil
grafton Canyon.
MISSING SINCE FRIDAY
Evidence Shows That Suicide
Was Carefully and DELHI
erately Planned.
MISSING SINCE FRIDAY


suicide on August 81. and who disap-
peared from his home, l25 West sixth
South street, last Friday morning under
peculiar circumstances was found yes
terday afternoon at 2:3o o'clock beside
the old pioneer trail In the head OF Emil
grafton canyon. after ten hours search
participated In by members OF the ponce
department. the county shern's office
and twenty two neighbors OF McElrath
Beside the dead man was found hau
empticd one-ouncc vial OF strychnine
glass and a partly emptled box or cap,
sules which told In what manner ne Haa ,
met his death. The body was found ~
ing face down. The dead man coat
was wrapped around his head and ms
nose was buried In hanakerchiet "hnen
the police have reason to believe was
soaked with chloroform at the time Nc
t.lrath met his death
Death Carefully Planned.
The suicide had carefully planned
mode OF procedure. II was apparent
from his position and the evidence lying
around him that he had gone TO the
creek and carried the glass of water 10
the spot I'm which he Intended 10 die. tie
had then filled the capsules with strych-
nine because had he taken the drug In
a powdered state the effect would have
| been so rapid that convulsions would
have oIertaken him before the chloro-
form had opportunity 10 become effective
Allcr taking The capsules illled Win tne
poison he had wrapped MS head in his
coat that the fumes OF the anodync might
not escape into the atmosphere and
buried his nose In the handkerchief sat-
evidence Of a death struggle. and II is
believed that the choroform threw him
into Unconsclousness before the effects Of
the poison were felt.
The theory that McElrath had killed
himself was not substantated until A late
hour Saturday night, when Eugene Hill
man, proprietor of barber shop on the
corner OF West Temple and Seventh
South streets. recalled a conversation he
had had with McElrath on the day OF
the disappearance, and when McEirath
asked him concerning the effects OF divers
possons, saying that he was interested in
killing rats in his house. He also told
the barber that he intended going up
Emigration canyon for the ride.
shaved he asked the barber what was
good 10 kill rats.
Il have some AL stuff here" said the
barber
Query Shows Intent.
"Strychnine is good enough for me.
Nothing like making sure. answered Nc
Elralh How much strychnine would
II take. do you think, To XII "a MANI"
You're not thinking OF committing
suicide. are you2' asked the barpcr
NO" answered McEirath. "but there
have been so many suicides lately that I
just wondered"
After McElrath left his home for the
last time, Friday morning. ne again went
to the barber shop and showed Hllman a
bottle OF strychnine and a bottle Of
chloroform which he had purchased
Where is the best place 10 take a
ride he asked. lie was told that the
longest car ride was up Emigration can
you and he said that he would take that
ride and see Il it would not benefit his
health. Previous To leaving home he
told Mrs. McEIrath that he Intended TAX
ing car ride up Emigration canyon.
lie went up the canyon on the IL a. m.
car, car, arriving 5 I'M at the end OF the line at
remembers him as there were only two
other passengers on the car Knowing
that McElrath had not returned from the
canyon during the day, and fearing that
he would be left over night in the can
yon. the conductor sounded the whistle
number OF times before the last car
concluded. however that that MeElrath had had
walked out OF the canyon.
Search Instituted.
At . o'clock Yesterday morning Mount
ed Parolmen Heath and Calton went up
into the canyon In search OF McE!rath
Deputy Sheriffs Butler and White fol-
lowed them and at S o'clock twenty-five
nelghbors OF The missing man took the
search
scattered and the hills were Travelled
over and over. tWhen the search was
about to be given up. George Young an
employee Of the National Real Estate &
canyon, discovered the body A few feet
from the old pioneer trail and about
three-quarters OF mile from the terml-
nus OF the Emigration Canyon railroad
The searchers had passed within a few
ieet OF IL number OF times. In the
searching party were two brothers Of
the dead man and previous 10 the find
ing OF the body both had vowed that thew
| would not leave the CANYON until their
brother was found.
The body was brought down the can
yon on car and upon its arrival in
Salt Lake was taken TO the ODonneil
undertaking establishment
Had Sought Death Before.
McElrath made hts first attempt al sui
eide on August 81 He was discovered
in the bedroom OF his home by his TIfe
, in an unconscious condition and with the
gas jet turned on 10 It's limit. The po-
lice were summoned and he was re-
yived. He said that he had turned on
the gas accidently and that II had over
powered him before he had OPPORTUNITY to
turn II off. Following This members OF
his family watched him very closely nm
I'll he realized, it is believed. that il WAS
Impossible 10 make away with himself
In his own house without being dis
covered before the deed was accom-
pllshed.
I, is not. believed by members of his
family that McElrath was insane and
the only reason given for the act is that
would rather take his life than face what
physical suffering was before him He
had told his wife on n number of occa
sions that rather than be q helpless sick
man. he would end his life. II is be-:
lieved that he was suffering from cancer
OF the stomach. fie had returned from
California. where ne had gone for his
health. hut two weeks ago.
McEirath was n prosperous vegetable
vendeT and is known by many house
wives In Salt Lake. He owned real estate
in Salt Lake and elsewhere
The dececept born In Cleveland
o. May a. 1866. He came TO RIngban
about twentyfour years ago and worked
as miner. He then went to Butte
Mont. where he worked In the same
capacity. At that place ne married
Sadie Smith. n Salt Lake girl and made
his permanent home in Salt Lake about
twelve years ago. He is survived by a
father who lives In Toledo o.: q widow
three sons. Gerald. Clifford and Vernon:
one daughter. Vera; three brothers, AL
bert, Fred and Frank.
Funeral arrangements have not been
completed
Harry ). Harper. justice of the peace
and acting coroner, said last night after
learning the details OF the death. that no
Inquest would be held. as IL was appar
cnt in what manner McElrath had rnet
4