Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-05-15
Former Los Angeles Bank Clerk
Found Dead.
from the Pennington News.J

bNoAAO Az 1Oh HAOaAASoAh VA Odd
track about n mile north of the the
Iron Mountain depot shortly before
8 O'Clock on last Sunday afternoon by
the crew of a south bound freight
train leaving Bismarck at 1920 A, M.
The train was stopped and the body
was examined by the crew. 1t was
found to be cold. At Middlebrook
the conductor notified the Road Dis
trict superintendent at Poplar Bluff
of the matter. He in turn telephoned
DR.. English, Coroner, and also in
structed the Section Foreman at Mid
die brook to remove the body to the
depot at Iron Mountain. Dr.. English
Sheriff j. G. Williams and Prosecuting
Attorney F. A. Benham went over
to Iron Mountain early Sunday norm
ing and an inquest was held over the
unfortunate mans body. The testi-
mony of the train crew of the freight
and the Section Foreman brought out
the above facts. There was d bullet hole
in the mans right temple and nearby
his body a revolver with one chamber
empty had been found. His hat was
badly powder burned, showing that
the shot had been fred at close range.
Undoubtedly the man had been a
passenger on n of the southbound
night trains which pass Iron Noun
tain about midnight and had commit
ted suicide by going out on the steps
of the train and shooting himself. The
verdict of the jury was that he had
come to his death from a gunshot
wound inflicted by some unknown
person.
The body was removed to Farming
ton. On his person was found SUISSE
also many letters and papers and a
ticket from st. Louis to Little Rock.
From the letters it was learned that
his name was Charles Oscar Steven
son, of Los Angeles, California, and
that he had relatives in Little Rock,
Los Angeles, and New York. Also
that he was a member in good stand
ing of East Gate Masonic lodge of Los
Angeles.
A telegram was sent to Miss Stew
enson at Little Rock notifying her of
his death and asking for instructions
in regard to the body. She called up
DR.. English and said that the deceased
had two sisters, in New York and
one in Los Angeles, and asked that
they be notified. Accordingly a tele-
gram was sent to each, also to the
East Gate Masonic lodge. Monday
a telegram wa received from the
New York sister, asking for particulars
about his death. These were tele-
graphed. Later a message was receiv-
ed aking that the body be turned over
to the Masonic lodge for burial at
Pennington. A telegram from the
East Gate Masonic lodge was also re-
ceived authorizing this. Accordingly
on Wednesday afternoon the body
was inferred in the Masonic cemetery
by the local Masons. A brief service
was held at the grave, led by Rev,
Hickok. No message was ever re-
ceived from the Los Angeles sister.
The deceased was evidently a man
of about 40 years of age. He had the
appearance of being a man of refine
ment. The many papers and letters
found upon him also indicated this
Below we print a letter from a bank
where he had been employed for &
great many years:
The Farmers'and Merchants Nationa'
Bank, Los Angeles, California, April
IA, 1911.
To Whom 1t May Concern:
1t affords us much pleasure to pre-
sent the bearer of this letter, Mr.
Charles o. Stevenson, who has beer
in the employ OF this Bank during the
past sixteen years, and who is now
leaving US of his own accord and much
to our regret.
Mr.. Stevenson has served us ir
every capacity and has made gooc
wherever he has been placed. We
have found him to be prompt, atten-
tive to his duties, courteous and pleas
ant at all times, and rapid, neat and
accurate in his work. In fact, he is
a first class, all around bank clerh
and we IA heartily recommend him
to any one in need OF such a man.
For the past six years, Mr.. Steven
son has acted as Ladies' Teller, ant
has discharged the duties of thai
position to the entire satisfaction o
our clients, as well as to the manage
ment.
We wish Mr.. Stevenson much sue
cess in his future undertakings.
Very truly,
CHAs. SEYLER, Cashier.
Among his papers was found a Ger
tificate Of discharge from the Agnew
State Hospital at Agnews, California
discharging Charles Oscar Stevenson
who was received as a patient iron
Shasta county on August %, 1911. TIL
discharge was signed by Leonar,
Stocking, Medical superintendent
and was dated December q, 1912. TIL
reasons for discharge as given wer
"that the discharge of said patier
will not be detrimental to the publ
welfare Or injurious to the patient.
1t did not SO prove to be.
Accordingly to papers found in h.
pocketbook, he left Los Angeles o
January 10th, and went to j. Rierson
at Athens, Texas, where he probabl
stayed several weeks. Recently b
left there. On Friday he brought
ticket in st. Louis for Little Rocl