The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-27
Takes His Own Life After Commit
ting Murder Body Found In
Barn Close TO Scene
Of Crime.
LEFT A TRAGIC LETTER
Says That Desertion Of His Wire
Made Him Broken Hearted Man
and Points Accusing
Finger.


William Stout, slayer OF his wife.
Mary Stout. ended his own life during.
the night from Monday to Tuesday, by
shooting the top of his head off with
shot gun, in his brothers, Jesse
Stout's barn, short distance west uf
the town OF Danville. Just as big
posse Of Danville citizens. and farm
ers were preparing to renew the hunt
for Stout, the word was flashed over
the community that the fugitive had
committed suicide
Jesse Stout found his brothers.
body stretched out on the floor OF the
barn at 1880 o'clock. Clutched in his
hands was the same weapon William
Stout had used 20 kill his wife. The
gun had been discharged by Stout
pushing the trigger with his foot. the
man taking OF one Of his shoes. The
whole top of his skull was blown
away
The belief is that Stout killed him
self between IL o'clock and midnight.
One of the horses in the barn showed
SlSuS Ol HAVING UCCn iiuQChs IL 10
presumed he started out on wild
ride perhaps with the intention of at
tempting to escape, after numbering
his wife. He returned to the barn
and putting the horse in the stall,
killed himself A neighbor heard a
shot at the time mentioned above but
did not give the incident any atten-
ton.
Sheriff Earnest and posse had
searched the Jesse Stou. place earlier
in the evening, but failed to find any
trace OF the murderer. A request had
been sent to Springfield, H., for blood
hounds to trace the murderer, but
this was cancelled when Stout's re-
mains were found
Stout Left Message.
A letter dated Sunday, March IS.
was found in Stout's pocket. 1t shows
the disposition of the man. just before
the crime was committed, and is as
follows:
March %, 1913.
ITO Ny Father, Warren Stout: Two
years ago mex. Saturday, March %,
1911. was happy boy; now I'm a
ruined, broken-hearted man. Marie
has left me because her folks kept
after her and made her leave me; but
it will never do them any good. for
they have put her into a pair of shoes
that will never do them or anybody
else any good. always told her what
would do If she left me.
1T wont do them any good to
grieve over this, for have got good
bait laid for them. / have got poison
laid for the old man and old woman,
for John and Hannah (wife's sister
and husband, and II they amt care
full they will get 1t in what they eat
and drink about their place, for will
ge. them sooner or later. But Fred
and Lena don't need to be afraid
around their place, for they always
treated me like a brother. But the
rest, / will see them in hell before
will help them, for they took Marie
away from me and broke UP a happy
home. Now they can see what break
ing up home is. think can break
their hearts now, but 1t is too late
The old man said his girl should not
live with me any more and I'm going
to see that she will not live with him
any more, either, and I don't think he
will live with the old lady any more
If he gets hold of the bait have laic
for him. Strychnine will make any
one turn up their toes. and that old
devil needs 1T IL anyone does, and |
think he will get it. Don't anyone eat
a; John and Hannah Millers or at
old man Hueschen's, for 1t is danger
GUS. Anyone that can do me trick
like that can do anything with them.
Il will quit on that subject and bid
my folks good-by: but excuse me for
this, for can't help It. I would not
ask my father for money to help me
and I'm not able to work just now,
and I know Marie will never come
back and might as well go on with
this deed. I'm ready to die, anyhow.