The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-11-18
|ED HARRIS A SUICIDE
Well Known Businessman Shot Him.
self with a Revolver Thursday
MorninQ at his Home In leon.

Ed E, Harris, a we'll known young
man of Leon, was found dead In MS
bed last Thursday morning by MS
mother, Mrs. Caroline Harris, VINO
went to his room to call him shortly
after six o'clock.
Having called him twice before
with no response, Mrs. Harris laid
her hand en- his head, thinking the
touch would awaken him, and was
shocked and horrlfied when she dis
covered that he was wounded.
In an almost fainting condition the
aged lady ran to the home OF her
next door neighbor, j. II. Pltman,
and managed to make 1T understood
that someone had shot her son. Mr.
and Mrs. Pitman went Immediately
to the Harris home where they found
the injured man unconscious put stlll
breathing. They were Soon joined
by Ed Pace, Mrs. Emma Pace, q. f.
Henderson and others.
DR.. C. H. Mitchell was the first
physician to be found by telephone
and he, after hasty examination,
summoned DR.. H. R. Layton. The
two physicians remained until the
end came at 8:2O O'Clock and DIR.
Layton in his capacity as coroner an
nounced that no inquest was neces-
sary as every indication pointed un-
erringly to self-destruction.
In the dead mans left hand was
revolver, fully loaded with the excep-
tion of one chamber. The bullet en-
tered the left temple and so sure was
his aim and so fatal the shot that ne
had scarcely moved from the position
in which he evidently lay at the time
the trigger was pulled. Mrs. Harris
who is a light sleeper, had heard a
noise about three o'clock, which she
thought was made by g door slam
ming or lump of coal falling in the
fire.
There was no message of any kind
to explain the deed and SO far9no rea-
son can be assigned. II Upon the Sat-
urday previous Mr.. Harris had form
ed a partnership with his brother-ln-
law, c. E. Moore, and purchased the
cafe next door to the post office. he
lad been active in this place OF busl-
ness for four days and appeared to
be feeling quite elated over the pros
poets for successful and prohtaDle
business. He had no business troubles
so far as known and was in financial
condition to hold up his affairs.
His devotion to his mother was
very marked. Relatives think that
he realized his new duties would
keep him away from home for many
hours each day and he would tfes2sz
by be compelled to leave his mother
alont more than he liked to do, this
idea preying on his mind and form
| ing an exaggerated source of worry.
He had complained of much loss OF
sleep lately and it is thought by
physicians that lack of needed rest
at night may have produced de-
preston approaching mental de-
|rangement. At times he drank some
and while not a regular user Of
liquor was imbued with the idea that
the habit might eventually bring dis
grace to his family. 1t is rumored
that he had declared recently that II
he felt the appetite returning he
would lend it all" himself. This
statement, however, is not substan-
tiated and there is nothing to show
that his death was brought about
from that cause as he left his place
OF business at somewhere near eight
O'Clock the evening before and reach
cd home within ten or fifteen min
utes.
Mr.. Harris had many friends-in
fact, he was highly regarded by all
who knew him, and it is said he had
not single enemy. The news of
his tragic death was distinct shock
and almost unbelievable for time.
He was carpenter by trade but had
been employed in Leon in various
capacities for several years and farm
ed for a time for S. E. Benefiel, with
whom he had been associated for
seven or eight years, much OF the
time in the restaurant.
Funeral services were held at the
Christian church Friday afternoon
at 1880 o'clock. BY request Of the
deceased, made recently, his friend,
Riley Buchanan, delivered the fun
eral sermon, being assisted in the
services by the regular pastor, Rev.
Henry Esch. Interment was in the
Leon cemetery
Edward Ellsworth Harris was born
in Leon, Iowa, August 5, 1873, and
died at the home of his mother in
this city on November II, 1915,
aged AZ years, months and days.
He was a son of James G. and Caro-
line Howard Harris and since the
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