The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-28

These few words, half legible, and
scrawled upon a soiled sheet of pa
per with lead pencil, constitute the
last message of S. B.. Head, who
died suicide at rooms in the Pipe
stone block in this city about seven
o'clock Friday morning, says The
Fairmont Sentinel.
Thursday evening about nine, Mr..
Head was discovered in stupor by
George Teeter, who occupies adjoin-
ing rooms. Mr.. Teeter had been
aware for couple of days that Mr..
Head was not at work and that he
was spending most of the time in
his rooms and, was keeping him I'M
der surveillance. Mrs. Head and
their daughter were temporarily
away, stopping at the A. B. Santee
home, where Mrs. Head was work
ing as nurse. Consequently none of
the family was at home during the
events leading up to the tragedy.
Bought Some Laudanum.
Sunday evening Mr.. Head bought
twenty cents worth of laudanum at
Edwards drug store, saying he had
bad toothache and wanted the
drug to relieve his pain. 1t is sup
posed, that he took this in one dose
soon thereafter but the quantity was
so large that it merely caused ill
ness. During the early part of the
week he called upon several &C
quaintances and bid them good bye,
intimating that he intended to COM
NIT suicide.
Thursday morning Horace Haskins
a of HrtIo CT nd
purchased, twenty cents worth of
laudanum, certifying that he desired
il for toothache. 1t is surmised that
he bought it for Mr.. Head, as the
empty vial was found in his room.
The supposition is that the suicide
took the second dose early Thurs
day.
Tried to Save His Life.
On discovering that Mr.. Head was
in a serious condition, Mr.. Teeter
summoned Dr. Luedtke and Mrs.
Head. Dr. Luedtke stated that the
unconscious man was suffering from
uraemia as a. result of the large
quantity of poison, he had taken.
worked over him until
morning when he passed away, hav-
ing regained consciousness partially
in response to powerful stimulants.
He talked little and answered
some. questions.
Among those who Mr. Head had
called upon to bid good bye the
past few days are Winfield Card
well, Rudy Henry, j. E. Murphy and
Ter out of bed at midnight, bid him
goodbye and told him he would
never shave him again. To Mr..
Murphy he stated that he was going
to drown himself.
Formerly of Madelia.
Mr.. Head was sixty-fve years of
age. He came to Fairmont from Ma
della about eight years ago. He was
until few months ago a hard work
ing and reliable workman. He ex-
celled as a ditcher and tiler and
during his residence here filled many
contracts in that line. Through in
diligence in strong drink he had
experienced many vicissitudes re-
Gently and was in the down and out
class. Believing himself to be the
victim of cruel circumstances, he re-
solved to end his troubles by death.
A few years ago son OF Mr..
Head suicided as a result of an UNI
fortunate love affair and this melan-
choly event, together with other
family troubles preyed heavily on
the mind of the deluded man.
Member of Woodman Lodge.
The deceased was a member of
the Modern Woodman lodge at Ma
della and carried policy for $4,000,
payments on which have been kept
up by his wife.
Surviving him are a wife and four
children. three grown sons and
daughter about thirteen. One son
lives in Western Canada, another in
North Dakota, and the youngest is
working on a farm near Fairmont.
Mrs. Head is most estimable wom-
an who is held in the highest re-
gard by the community. and the SYM
pathy of all goes out to her and