Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-12
ALTHo HELPLESS, NERVES
HIMSELF TO FINAL ACT
rurns Water Into Bathtub, Where
Wife Finds Dead Body Upon Return
homs-came to Marshalltown in
1856 - For Years Was Identified
With Grocery Trads-FuneraI Tues
day.


North First street, ended his life Sat
urday evening by drowning himself in
the bathtub at his home. NervinS
himself to a supreme effort TO end it
all, Mr.. Drum took the opportunity Of
the absence of his wife from home TO
accomplish the ACT, and was dead when
Mrs. Drum returned.
Mr.. Drum had been in failing health
for five years, being a sufferer from
shaking palsy, a severe nervous attic
ton. He had long since realized that
there was no hope Of his ever being
any better, and had feared and brooded
over the probabilities that he would
eventually grow worse. The fact that
he was already practically helpless also
worried him greatly, and caused him to
become more and more respondent.
Visits Friend Almost to End.
Saturday afternoon shortly before 4
O'Clock Mr.. Drum accompanied his wife
down town. for the purpose Of doing
few errands while Mrs. Drum went to
the home Of her daughter, Mrs. II. S.
Lawrence. II had been agreed that.
when his errands had been finished, Mr..
Drum would go TO the home Of his
daughter, Mrs. Robert w. Stevens.
where Mrs. Drum said she would call
for him on her way back from the
Lawrence home.
After finishing his business down
town Mr.. Drum went home, and ar
irving at the Drum home about the
same time We're Mr.. Drums sister. Mrs.
William B. Golding, and Senator
Charles II. Eckles, the latter an old
time friend.
nn,ry n nv TO- 4yv6 mo " CO. n
unlock the door is a mystery to his
family, for it has been some time since
he has been able to use his hands. He
had got into the house, however, and
Mr.. Eckles had helped him Off with
his coat. Mn. Golding staid but
short time, but Mr.. Eckles rem aimed for
half hours visit and left the Drum
home about $50. Mr. Drum had given
no intimation in his conversation of
contemplating ending his life. Having
met her sister-in law down town, and
being advised that Mr.. Drum had gone
home and not to his daughters, Mrs.
Drum reached home at about 1850, to
find her husband dead.
Nerved Himself to Effort.
That Mr.. Drum must have nerved
himself to a supreme effort, both in
unlocking the door and turning on the
water in the tub. Is realized when the
ilelplessness of his condition is taken
into consideration. He had filed the
tub with warm water to a point within
the overflow pipe. shut off the water
and got into the tub. reclining on his
left side. Or. H. H. Nichols was sum
rnoned as soon as Mrs. Drum made the
discovery and removed the body from
where 1t lay. The clothing was at once
$|,o
body showed life extinct. Coroner F.
Fl. Boucher was notified. but after
learning the facts decided no inquest
necessary.
Terrible Shock to Family.
To the family and many warm per-
sonal friends Mr.. Drums death proved
terrible si1nok. Especially was this
true In the case OF the wife, in dis
covering the body. Mr.. Drum was a
man Of many friends. and the news Of
his sad death will be learned with gen.
eral regret turnout wide circle of his
friends and acquaintance, both here
and elsewhere.
Came to MarshaIltown in EARLY Day.
Charles Drum was a native Of New
Columbia, Union county. Pennsylvania
where he was born July "a. 1899 In
1856 his parents. John w and Sarah
vertz Drum. enigrated to what was
then the far western state Of iowa
their destination being Marshalltown
Fhey made the journey in a covered
wagon being six weeks on the trip
!. MarshaiNown then was a village that
boasted Il few hundred souls. The
elder Mr.. Drum bought farm which
extended from where Fourth avenue
now lies TO the present fair grounds
He built stone house which occupied
the present site Of the Woodbury.
school, and in which the family resided
Tor many years.
Many Years in Grocery Business.
Mr. Drum was one Of the early gro
GERS Of Marshalltown. and for thirty
three years was identified with the
grocery trade in this city In 1873. IL
company with the late E. w Head, he
went into the grocery business in the
stand occupied during more recent
wears by the L. s. Peckham Grocery
Company. This partnership. known
as Heald & Drum continued for thret
and one-half years Later, for a sim
Gar period, Mr.. Drum was in partner.
= shic NTH w NJ Hodges under tn,
firm name Of Hodges & Drum. Mr.
Drum worked for several different gro
Gerry firms during the earlier days. and
for seventeen years was in the emplo.
of Cooper & Speers.
Mr.. Drums marriage took place I,
this city Aug. %, 1868. his wife beint
Miss Anna Windish. who survives hin
with her three daughters, Mrs. Rober
IA w. Stevens, Miss Mabel Drum, an,
Mrs. n. 8. Lawrence. Two sons, Harr!
and Martin. died In infancy. Mr. Drum
was the youngest son in family o
. eleven children. and has three sister
living They are Mrs. W. B. Goldin,
land Mrs. Hannah Ackley, Of this city
- md Mrs. George How of Chicago
Funeral Tuesday Afternoon.
The funeral will be held from tn
residence at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon
Rev. b. F. Martin officiating Inter
ulent will be in Riverside.
leeal Wsather Record.
e Twenty -six was the maximum and
i the minimum temperature Sunday
ssnparo1 Win -. and Z shows tie ex