The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-09-02
THIRD SUICIDE
CHOOSES ACID.
TO TAKE LIFE
Avery Willhite Leaves Note
at Kelley Hotel, Indicating
Melancholia as Cause of
Self-DestructiOn.

Self-DestructiOn.
Despondent over his failure to Sc
cure work. and attacked by spell
of melancholia, 20-year-old Avery Will
hite, nephew Of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Stafford. 421 Pearl street, chose the
same route to end his troubles as did
Robert Culbertson of Centerville. The
young mans body was found late yes
terday in q room of Kelley's hotel on
North e street.
Willhite, the third suicide in less
than a month, and the second to pick
q room in the same hotel in which to
drink carbolic acid, arranged care
fully for his act, and unlike other re-
cent suicides, left note. The char
acter of the note shows that Willhite
was suffering from melancholia or
some other slight form of insanity
Under an almost empty four-ounce
carbolic acid vial, the following mes
sage, written on loose leaves OF an
old note book, was found:
Leaves Explanation.
II commit this crime today, for
when mother turns her son down he
feels like there is nothing to live for.
I leave this world today sober I
hope to 60 to better place. My
name is John Avery Willhite. Have
been living at 421 Pearl street, but
had some trouble this morning and
left. My brothers name is Clarence
Willhite. and I want him to let my
father, John O. Willhite, in Pleasure
vile. KY, to know about this and
send my body back to him, as
know he will take care Of it. Have
my jewelry given to my brother Clar-
ence to remember me by, as he has
been to me as a brother. And love
to my youngest brother and regards
to my friends. Will close.
JOHN AVERY WILLHITE.
"My brother Clarence is employed at
the tannery at Clendenin's. Best re-
CARDS to all"
Because Of spells of moroseness the
boy refused to go into better society
and for the last few weeks had been
drinking heavily. His mature and
mental trend caused him to look much
older, Police Chief Goodwin judging
his age at 33.
Mother Long Dead.
The boys mother has been dead for
years. He and his brother, Clarence,
nave UCcA lHdhluS JuclI WITH IuG
Staffords. Mr.. Stafford was a sister
of Mrs. Willhite. Although the note
instructed that the body should be
sent to his father, Mrs. Static said
today that Mr.. Willhite has not been
located for years, and that repeated
attempts of Willhite to get in COM
munication with him have been I'M
successful. The fact that he spoke of
his mother and father are said by ply
sicions to indicate that he was men
tally unbalanced.
A young lady in Cambridge City
whom Willhte called on frequently
Tilted him recently. Since that time
his mental condition had been more
distracted. This occurred about ten
days ago. He had also been drinking
heavily since that.
Early yesterday morning Willhite
refused money from Mr.. Stafford
whom he had been helping in the in.
surance business of late. He went to
his brother, Clarence, at the Clendenin
tannery, however, and borrowed a
dollar, refusing a larger amount He
said then that he intended to Join the
army.
Find Dead Body.
At o'clock he appeared at the
Kelley hotel, after having bought the
acid at Magaw's drug store He
asked for room, paid so cents for il
and told the proprietor that he wished
to be called at 3 o'clock. He was tax
en- to Room 80, where he wrote the
note, removed his coat and drank sui
ficent acid, if diluted, to kill severa
men.
Shortly before o'clock yesterday
afternoon, maid was sent to the
room. The door was open an inch OF
two. She knocked several times She
detected the odor of carbolic acid ant
saw the rigid body fully dressed or
the bed.
1t was evident that the boy had tax
en- the acid while standing, and hat
walked to the bed. AS it took effect
his body was draw up and when dis
covered, his arms and legs were ben
rigid. His nervousness was shown b,
the fact that a quantity of the acit
was spilled on his chin and some wa
splashed on the note on the dresser
The chin and mouth were badly burn
ed by the acid
Is Third Suicide.
Willhite is the third suicide sine,
August 6. Robert Culbertson, as, O
Centerville, was the first, having takel
his life In Room 10 Of the Kelley hotel
Louise Bentlage, 81. drank acid at he
home on South Twelfth street, fiv,
days later
The instructions in the note will b.
carried out only in the giving of a val
liable watch and two rings to hi
brother, Clarence. AS efforts to locat
his father have been unavailing, it il
impossible to follow the last instruc
lions given, to ship the body to him
The only survivor in the immediate
family is Clarence Willhite. A younge
brother referred to is believed to be ;
cousin. The funeral will be held from
the Stafford home.