Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-29
PRiER s. WILSON COMMITTED
SUICIDE BY DRINKING CAR
6OLIC ACID.
WAS DESPONDENT
Ill Health and Worry over Loss Of
Wife Thought to be Cause Of
His Deed--Well Known
Here.

depressed by loneliness caused by the
loss Of his wife one year ago, Prier s.
Wilson, aged 70 years, wealthy
pioneer of Wapello county, took his
own life by drinking carbolic acid and
cutting his throat, yesterday afternoon
about $3.50 o'clock at his home, three
miles west of the city. The deed WAS
committed in the loft Of the barn
| while his daughter, Mrs. Jennie Arnold
was away visiting her brother, a short
distance west of her home.
The circumstances as brought out
by the inquest, held by Coroner A. w.
Slaught at the Wilson home last even
ing at 6 o'clock, fail to show any i'm
mediate cause Of the deed. Mrs. Ar.
mold stated that she and her father
lived there alone, and that usually he
| seemed to be perfectly contented with
life, although suffering with nervous
| trouble. He never SO much as init
mated that he intended to take his
own life. Yesterday about p m. she
left the house and went to her broth
er's to pay them short visit Her
father did not act the least bit strange
nor did he seem to want her to leave.
She returned home about $3.50 O'Clock
and missed him. Her calls to him
failed to bring an answer but she paid
little heed to his absence, thinking
he would soon return. Shortly after
she went to the barn to get some eggs.
| The hay stands In one end and is sew
eral feet high. Climbing up on the
top Of the pile in the course Of her
search for the eggs, she found her
father lying on his back. She then
made the terrible discovery that his
body was lifeless, although still warm,
showing that he had been dead but
short time. She Immediately sum-
m0ned neighbors and relatives.
Made Preparations.
Coroner Slaught stated that from all
indications Mr.. Wilson had carefully
premeCitated his action and prepared
himself accordingly.
The little bottle of carbolic acid he
procured from the smoke house where
it had been since the death OF his
| wife. 1t was six ounce vial and al
most full. He also secured tumbler
and made his way to the barn. Crawl
ing UP onto the hay, it Is thought he
poured the contents Of the bottle into
the tumbler and then placed the vial
upon one Of the studdings of the barn.
It contained but few dregs when
found. 1t Is then thought that he sat
down on the hay and deliberately
drank the acid, with the exception OF
a very small quantity which was found
in the glass beside the body. He then
procured his pocket knife and made
an effort to severe the jugular veins.
After inficting two deep gashes in
either side of his neck, he is thought
to have tossed the knife to one side as
it was found several feet from the
body.
Was Pioneer.
The deceased was one of the Oldest
pioneers Of this county having resided
here for the past sixty-two years. He
was born In Monroe county, Ind, July
FL, 1928. In 1849 he removed with his
parents to Iowa, making the journey
by team. In the earlier years Of his
residence in this county he was ex-
tensively engaged in the dairy bust
ness. He was one Of the best known
and most prominent pioneers Of the
county and the news Of his demise will
be learned with the greatest sorrow
by all who knew him. He is survived
by two sons and two daughters, A. d.,
and E. M. Wilson and Mrs. Jennie Ar
mold OF Ottumwa, and Mrs. Laura
Bryant Of Charlton.
| Funeral Saturday.
The funeral services will be held
Saturday afternoon at o'clock at the
home. Rev. T. w. jeffrey will have
charge of the services. Interment
will be made in the Burns cemetery.
The pail bearers will be his grand
children, Fred D., Bert, Horace, Clyde,
Don and Forrest.
| Coroner's Verdict.
The coroner's verdict as reached by
| the Jury last evening follows:
THE said JURORS upon their oath
do say that we find that the said Prier
s. Wilson came to his death at or
about 3 o'clock, p. M, on the Goth day
Of April 1911, from wounds in his neck
inflicted by small knile in his own
hand and that he also took quantity
of carbolic acid and that these acts
were with suicidal intent.
| &c. s. Wilson.
| John F. Meeker.
II. H. Appley.
l
| One Conductor Helped Back TO Work.
! Mr.. MILFORD Adams is his name, and
he writes: II was confined to my bed
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