Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-12
Wife of Secretary of State
Finds Body in Garage
Tool Shed.
MISSED SINCE SUNDAY
Leaves No Note of Explanation
Had Been Dealing on Chi
cago Board of Trade.

Springfield, IL, Oct 12.-Harry
Woods. secretary of state, who was
one Of the democratic senatorial can
didates at the September primary.
killed himself early yesterday morn
ing.
His Efeless body, with a gaping bull
let wound in its forehead and a pistol
clutched in its right hand, was discoy-
cred at 7.I5 this morning in the tool
room Of the garage at the rear of his
residence. The CHASTITY find was made
BY Mrs. Woods, who had become
alarmed at his absence from home
since Sunday morning.
No note of explanation was left by
Woods. and the only clue which would
give a possible indication for the cause
Of the deed was a bundle of papers
showing extensive dealings in grain
through a Chicago brokerage house.
Woods was formerly a Chicago board
Of trade operator
There was evidence that the secre-
tzry had carefully planned the deed.
The vacancy in the secretaryship
will be filed by appointment by the
governor.
Locks All Doors.
Going 10 the garage. Mrs. Woods
found her husbands bunch Of keys
locked on the inside. There are two
small rooms at the rear Of the garage,
one a tool room and the other the
chauheur's bedroom. Mrs. Woods
called a neighbor. Walter \. Towns
end. editor of a local newspaper. and
h.
building. 4 door was forced. and in
q corner Of the tool room the body
vas found. Woods had taken of his
hat and laid Il on a bench. but did
not remove his eyeglasses. An iron
bed had been placed against the door
leading 70 the room, and all doors !
locked.
Although nearly prostrated as a re-
suit Of the tragedy, Mrs. Woods was
able 10 talk, but could assign no mo- !
tive for her husbands deed. She de |
clares she knows nothing OF his bus !
mess affairs.
News Of the suicide spread about the !
city and occasiOned much excitement. !
Most pf the state officers are out OF
toVn. owing % tomorrow being reg
istrati0n day in Chicago.
wife and Three Daughters.
Besides -he widow. Mr. Woods is
survived By three daughters: Jessie.
8; Annabell. ., and a daughter by a
former marriage, who resides in Chi
eago.
Coroner Clarence Rhodes was noti-
fed soon after the body was found
and started an investigation. Woods
Trends attributed peculiarities which
have characterized him since he had
been elected secretary Of state 20 the
Effects Of a blow on the mead receiv-
eo IN fight IN Chicago several years
ago as a result Of a political feud, in
which Representative John McLaugh-
III was said 20 have struck him. He
sued Mclaughlin for damages. but
me affair was settled out Of court
4here was bad feeling between Woods
and .NcI-aughliu afterwards and they
eleshed many times during the last
session Of the legislature over appro-
Vfi@tions. especially those pertaining
70 ne Office Of secretary OF state.
Falls Out With Governor.
Woods fell out with Governor Dunno
7oon after he assumed the Office OF
seeretary OF state, and he had been
Violent in his denunciation OF the gov 4;
amor ever since He also had
eiashes with the state civil service
commission and discharged employees :
Nltnout reference 20 the commission
tnough they were under civil service.
HAIRY Woods was elected secre-
tAry Of state as a democrat IN Noyem-