The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-06-13
THE COOKSEY SUICIDE.
Old Gentleman Was Subject to
Spells of Melancholia Recently.

John Wesley Cooksey, aged "a
years, months and q days, who sui
cided at Eddyville Thursday about
noon, was resident and pioneer of
Mahaska county. He was living with
a niece, Mrs. Carry c. Jenkins, upon
a farm located near Des Moines river,
about five miles southwest of Beacon.
He had been gradually failing In
health and characteristic excentrici-
ties had become pronounced. He had
been subject to attacks Of melancholia
"the blues" and at times was unduly
irritable and otherwise exhibited evil
dences of mental or nervous strain.
He would frequently leave the farm
without a word to any one and walk
to Beacon or come to Oskaloosa.
These trips generally caused no I'M
easi1ess to relatives, because the old
man had been in the habit of going
and coming when and how he pleased.
Wednesday morning the old gentle
away from the farm. He was not
missed until the dinner hour, when
he could not be found. The nephew
went to Beacon Immediately in search
of the old man. He had threatened
la number of times to do violence to
himself and to destroy his own life,
IApprehensive of the fulfillmelt of the
threat the people about the farm were
watchful of Mr.. Cooksey whenever he
had one of his moroSe spells. The
search for him on this particular oc
casion was unsuccessful. Mr.. Jen
kins came to Oskaloosa and spent the
remainder of the day in the attempt
to find the old gentleman. The first
word the family had Of him was the
notification OF, his suicide at Eddy
| vile.
Mr.. Cooksey on reaching the Rock
Island railway station at Beacon pur
chased a ticket for Eddyville, reach
ling that place Wednesday afternoon
He went to the house of an acquaint
ance, where he spent the night. Arts
ing the following morning he enquir
ed direction to the drug house, where
he purchased carbolic acid, an ounce
bottle, and spent the morning in NOV
ing about from place to place. He en-
tered the church yard and passed t.
the rear of the building, where HI
seated himself beneath a tree ant
probably rested for some time before
he swallowed the acid. He was seeI
by number of persons passing, bu
did not attract notice until his ap
Ipearance denoted distress. A physi
clan was summoned but when hell
came the man was dead.
An inquest was held by justice o
the peace at Eddyville Thursday al
ternoon and as many of the facts a
possible were DEVELOPED. No doub
existed as to the manner of death
Undertaken +. M. Cheesman, of o.
kaloosa, was summoned to care TO
the body, which was brought to Oska
loosa.
Funeral will be held at the late resi-
dence, his farm southwest of Beacon
Saturday, June s, at 10 o'clock a. m
Interment in Forest cemetery.
john w. CookSey was kentucklal
by birth and had been in Iowa seven
ty-tive years. He came to Mahask;
county almost half century ago ant
purchased a farm in Adams township
which he operated and improved will
much success. He disposed of thi
place at a fancy figure and purchase,
100 acres of land lying close to De
Moines river, in West Garfield town
ship, where he lived at the time o
death. He had not been actively en-
gagged in the work of the place TO
several years and had turned tn
management of the place over to
nephew. The deceased was twic
married and daughter was bora t
the first union.