The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-08-04
DESPONDENT BOY
SEEKS DEATH IN POND
LELAND BODINE A VICTIM OF
MELANCHOLIA
Sad Tragedy Took Place Monday Morn
and Followed Several Months
of illness

One of the saddest tragedies that
ever occurred in Clio took place last
Monday morning, when Leland Rodine,
son of H. F. Bodine, in a moment of
profound melancholia, induced by con-
tinued illness, threw himself into the
mill pond and was drowned.
Briefly, the story of the sad occur
renee and the events that led up to it
is about as follows: Sometime last
fall Leland came to Clio from Highland
Park, where he had been making his
home, and shortly afterward was taken
to a Saginaw hospital where he under
went an operation for appendicitis,
from which disease, in chronic form,
he had been suffering for some time.
He seemed to make a nice recovery
from this operation and for time his
general health seemed greatly bene-
fitted. He returned to his home in
Highland Park and found employment
in the city of Detroit, at which he coa-
tinued until his health again began
to fail and he was compelled to seek
medical treatment. Two weeks ago
last Monday he came to Clio and went
to stay with his grandmother, Mrs. S.
E. Sissins. There he was seen by
local physician who found symptoms of
ulcer of the stomach and also found his
patient in a very nervous and debili-
tated condition and ordered him to bed.
The boy seemed to brood over his ill
ness, which he at times fancied was of
much more serious nature than the
symptoms indicated. On Sunday
specialist from Saginaw was called in
consultation d it was agreed that
course of treatment in the hospital
would do him good mentally, as well as
! physically, and arrangements were prac-
about the middle of the week.
On the morning of the tragic occur
renee, Mrs. Sissins went to the post
office and drug store at about 7:15,
leaving Leland in bed. She was absent
from the house only about fifteen min
utes and on her return was alarmed at
seeing his night dress hanging over the
foot of the bed. Her fear that some
thing serious had happened was soon
confirmed when she found an envelope
on the table on which the poor boy had
written the following pathetic message:
Dear Gram: can bear it to suffer no
longer. May God forgive me. My
body is in the pond. !" Mrs. Sissins at
once called several neighbors and Mr.
Bodine by telephone, informed them
of what she had discovered, and in
slant search was begun. This was
shortly brought to a close when B.
+. Conlee found the body resting
face downward in about three feet
of water, directly back of Mrs. Sis
sins residence. The remains were
taken to the home the boy had left so
short time previously and it was de-
cided that in view of the clear circum-
stances surrounding the case an inquest
was unnecessary. Leland had evident
ly donned his trousers and coat in haste,
thrust his bare feet into his shoes and
made his way out of the kitchen door
to the pond. His mother, Mrs. Martin
j. Doyle, was at Mackinac Island on an
outing trip at the time of the tragedy,
of which she was notified by telegraph,
and arrived here Wednesday.
Leland Bodine was born in Clio, Feb.
l, 1898, and died Monday, July 81. 1916,
being Is years and six months of age.
The earlier years of his life were spent
here. where he attended the public
schools and completed the studies of
the tenth grade. Following this he
went to Highland Park and entered the
high school,. graduating with honor in
the class of 1915. He was a high
minded, noble boy with ambition to
fill a place of usefulness and dignity in
the world. but i'll health seemed to him,
as his nerves gave way under physical
strain, to promise the Illustration of all
his hopes and doom him to life of
helplessness. And so, in moment of
overmastering despair, he yielded to the
impulse to end it all. Many a strong
man has felt that impulse and has been
| saved from a similar fate only through
the operation of fortuitous circum-
Therefore we are justified in feelings of
assured that his last petition for for
giveness was not unheeded at the source
of infinite love and understanding He
was a splendid boy whose memory will
ever live in the hearts of all who knew
him. Surviving deceased are his faith
er, H. F. Bodine, his mother, Mrs. M.
j. Doyle, of Highland Park, his grand
mother, Mrs. S. E. Sissins, and four
aunts. Mrs. ID. A. Wardell, of Caifor-
mia; Mrs. Earl Ware, of Ann Arbor;
Mrs. ID. M. Hunter, of Saginaw, and
Miss Anna Bodine. of this place. also
a cousin, Bryan Kent, of California.
These friends will have the deepest
sympathy of the community in their
affliction.
Funeral services. which we're very
largely attended, were held Thursday
afternoon from the residence of Mrs.
Sissins, a wealth of floral offerings be-
tokening the esteem in which deceased
was held. Rev. G.. w. Greene preached
an eloquent and feeling sermon and the
remains were laid at rest in Woodlawn.