Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-27
IRA T. EVANS, OF SOLDIERS
HOME, PUTS CHARGE OF SHOT
INTO NECK.
INSANITY PROBABLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR ACT
Sergeant Of Room Down Town Look.
ing For Man When News Of Death
Is 'phoned to Homs-Evans Consid-
cred HarmiessIy Insane on theatrical
susiness-Dsed Planned Carefully.

Tying a string TO the trigger Of an
old single barreIed shotgun. the muzzle
of which he placed against his neck,
Ira T Evans, aged IS. a member Of
the soldiers home from Give, Polk
county. committed suicide at about
80 Saturday night by shooting. The
entire right side IF the mans neck was
blown away. The shooting occurred in
an old barn IN the alley north Of State
street, between Center and First ave
nue.
Evans Was insane.
Evans considered at the home as
ha-niessly insane over the theatrical
business. failed ,o-show up al the home
for taps. ard Sergt S. E. Heathman.
OF ward Is. main building. was down
town ioking for him when news Of the
mans death was telephoned TO head
quarters. Sunday Heathman and Capt
g H ChE6s identified Evans at the
Pursel undertaking rooms. where the
police had removed the body. Evans
had fred one shot before the fara, one
and both were heard by men in another
nearby harm, and residents Of the
neighbo-hood
Sees Man in Dark.
X Bratteig, Of Gauthun & Bratteig,
IN company Nth Alfred Nelson. g. w.
Bolei and NJ. D. Houston. had returned
70 the rear OF the Gauthun & Bratteig
building 20 unload tools when shot
was heard in the alley. short dis
lance away. AS the men were putting
away the horses Bratteig went 10 the
little old barn. lighted a match, and
saw man in the semi darkness. Not
wanting u get shot. Bratteig did not
stand in front OF the door. but called
20 Nelson. who wen- for an officer
Shorty afterTard second shot was
heard. BraI-eig ran TO the fire station.
and with Chief Kirby returned TO the
harm. The dead body OF Evans was
found huddled in one corner of the
+ building Chief Of Police Lage and
Officer Breckel came soon atterward.
Plans Death Carefully.
The gun used by Evans had been
, bought in the afternoon az the Wulr
second hand store for 80. Evans also
invested in half dozen shells, loaded
.
he and a friend were going out camp
! ing for their health. During the aft
ernoon Evans had attempted to pur-
chase. q revolver at different hardware
stores. but was refused because ne
/ had no permit 70 carry a concealed
weapon. The gun and the remaining
shells. together with few personal
effects we're taken in charge ny Coro-
PTrfPher 5n-ecr: ed y
case Sunday
Other facts that show Evans plan
] ned 20 take his life developed after the
! shooting Early Saturday afternoon
! Evans applied at headquarters for his
pension certificate and army discharge.
These were not on his person and. il
! IS believed, we're enclosed in a packa &c
sent by express Saturday 70 his daugh-
/ ter. Grace Edith Porter. Des Moines.
( a receipt for an express money order
! TO a man named Olson. and the ad :
I dress Of another daughter. Mary K.
! Evans. care chamberlain Medicine
! Company, Des Moines. were found on
I Evans person.
! In Home Four Years.
! Evans entered the home from Give
FEB l, 1910. He was a native Of In
diana. where he was born Aug. IS. 1S45
4 He served in Company F. Forty
/ seventh Iowa infantry. from June II
| 1854, until Sept. % of the same year
His enlistunen. was in Polk county, and
his discharge at Davenport
When Evans came 20 the home he
was considered 10 ne off mentally, bu:
harmless. He was always talking abou;
| the show business. claiming TO have
been an actor, wanting to put on shows
in the assembly hall. He vas a fire.
quenter at the vaudeville and moving
| picture houses
Evans is survived by his widow. Mrs
Eva A. Evans. Of Des Moines, and three
daughters. Mary K and Nellie l. Evans
and Mrs. Grace E. Porter, all of Des
Moines. ~
Funeral services ulL be held from
| the assembly hall at 1870 Tuesda!
forenoon, Rev H. o. Tfat. officiating
Burial will be in the home cemetery.