The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1915-09-02
Z. FRANK BLAIR
COMMITS SUICIDE
USES POISON and PISTOL
WELL KNOWN INSURANCE MAN
KILLS HIMSELF AS RESULT
OF BUSINESS WORRY.
From Fridsy's Daily

From Fridsys Daily
2. Frank Blair, well-known Con-
way insurance man, committed sui
eide on the Beebe road, about one-half
mile east of Conway, at noon today,
by taking a quantity of carbolic acid
and shooting himself through the
head with a pistol. He died at 2:35
o'clock this afternoon in the under
taking rooms of J. A. Pence & So, to
which he was removed after he was
discovered.
Temporary insanity, due to work.
over business matters, was doubtless
responsible for the suicide. Two
notes to his daughter, and only child,
Miss Clyde Blair, found in his coat
pocket explained his act. The first
note, which was written on CORE
spondence paper and placed in an un-
sealed envelope, read as follows:
"My Dear, Loyal Daughter:
"The nervous strain which l am
undergoing is greater than l can
bear.
81 feel that 1 have lost my place in
the business world and have no hope
of regaining it, so have decided to end
my life.
May God and You forgive me for
this cowardly act.
"Tell Mrs. Newbern to PLEASE
give you a home with them and tell
Mr.. Newbern l want him to PLEASE
assist you in managing your business
affairs.
"May God guide and keep you and
save US at last is my prayer.
Goodbye.
Papa
With the above note in his pocket,
together with a 41-calibre Remington
derringer, some carbolic acid, bottle
of wood alcohol, Mr.. Blair walked
from the business part of town out
east shortly before noon. At c. A.
Simmons lumber yard he stopped and
borrowed a sheet of statement paper
and penciled another note to his
daughter, to whom he was very much
devoted. The second note read as fol-
lows:
my sweet Baby: Be brave, and
that God may take care of you is my
prayer.
"Your loving
Papa"
Mr.. Blair was formerly agent OF
the Planters Fire Insurance Com
pany of Little Rock, which went
bankrupt last winter. He had built
up a lucrative business in his line, his
speciality being farm property insur-
ance. The failure of his company ev-
identity weighed heavily upon his
mind and caused him to feel that
some of his clients blamed him per-
sonally for their losses.
An interesting insight into the con-
dition of the unfortunate mans mind
for the past two days is thrown by
G. w. Sammons, local manager OF the
Southwestern Telegraph and Tele-
phone Company. Mr.. Sammons said
that Mr.. Blair, while in his office yes
terday, asked him about the nature OF
Icarbolic acid and the quantity that
would be required to cause ones
death. His manner at the time, now,
ever, caused Mr.. Sammons to regarc
the question as being without signlfl'
canoe. This morning, Mr.. Sammons
states. Mr.. Blair was again In his
office and put in calls over the long
distance telephone for five different
parties in little Rock. Each time the
party was obtained, however, ne
would say: "Oh, don't believe
want to talk to him; get me
-, naming some other party
Before the fifth call had been complet
ed Mr.. Blair left the office, and Judg
ing from the time the rash act was
committed, he probably walked
straight to the place where he took
the poison and shot himself.
On his way out of town ne handed
two letters to a young man namet
Harrod, requesting that they be mail
ed. The contents of these letters OF
the names of the addresses are yet un
known.
Carl Twitty, a farmer living just
at the city limits, saw Mr.. Blair take
off his coat and hang it up on the
fence, at the roadside, and after
wards heard the report of the pistol
but gave it no special attention unit
a boy coming into town saw the body
. living at the roadside and ran to tel
him of it. Doctors George S. Brown
and I. N. McCollum were summoned
and Mr.. Blair was taken to the estab
lishment of ]. A. Pence & Son, but
he was beyond the reach of medical
skill and died about two hours after
wards, without regaining conscious
ness.
The news of her fathers tragic