The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-01-21
8. J. WELLER, BANK CASHIER,
FOUND SWINGING BY NECK
IN MEATHOUsE.
No Shortage Yet Found and Cause
Of Cashiers Rash Act
Unknown.

Gloom was cast over the entire
county Friday afternoon when the
news was flashed that Mr.. 8. j. We'll
Ter, prominent citizen and cashier
of the Dundee Deposit Bank, had
committed suicide by hanging him
self in the meathouse at his home
in Dundee. Bank Examiner
e. L. Augustus appeared in
Dundee Friday morning for the pur-
pose of going through the books of
the bank. He and Mr.. Weller start
ed the examination but the latter ex-
cused himself about 9 o'clock saying
he was going after drink of water.
He is known to have gone to the
Dundee Mercantile store where he
procured a razor. He locked him
self in room in the post Office but
came out later and started towards
his home. That was the last seen of
him until found swinging to rafter
in the meathouse by his seventeen
year old son about o'clock in the
afternoon.
Passersby were attracted to the
scene by shrieks of the boy and
rushed to his aid. With head only
few inches from the rafters, one
foot on barrel where it probably
caught during the last struggles. and
the toe of the other barely touching
the floor was the body of the desper-
ate cashier. He had apparently
stood on barrel,put the loop around
his neck and jumped. Part of the
head of the barrel was knocked out.
Death must have resulted from
strangling as the distance was not
sufficient for the jump to have brok-
en- the neck. The body was ordered
taken down and the razor mentioned
above was found in the pockets.
No note was found. 1t is thought
that the first idea was to use the
razor as an instrument of death with
the little room at the post Office as
the scene. Changing his plans, how
ever, he resorted to hanging and the
razor was likely kept for use in case
the attempt at hanging failed.
News of the tragedy spread fast
ly and soon small groups were gath
cred here and there wondering why
Jack" Weller would take his own
, life. No one doubted his honor, nc
one doubts 1t yet. The writer has
talked to men who have known him
all their lives, neighbors. friends
They all valued his friendship, prais-
ed his honor and wondered at his
generosity. 1t was most likely this
generosity that Indirectly caused his
death.
In the last several years Mr.. Wei.
Ter had been forced to pay off sew
eral debts incurred by others and
this with few minor unsuccessful
business ventures had gradually
eaten in upon his personal savings,
probably causing some dependency
not visible to his friends. Mr.. We'll
Ter must have believed he faced a
business failure and as he saw it,
there were two paths left open to
him. Pride forbade him take the
other.
Funeral services for Mr.. Weller
were held at the Methodist church
at Dundee Sunday morning at ten
o'clock conducted by Rev. J. p.
vanhoy. Interment was at Mt. Yer
non cemetery, near Sulphur Springs.
Mr.. Weller is survived by his wife
and six children; also three broth
ers. LATE. Robert and Tony, and two
sisters. Mrs. Brack. of Greensboro.
and Miss Bette Weller. at present
residing In Bowling Green. His
death has cast a great gloom over the
little town and community where
he was known so we'll He would
have been fifty years old the 27th
of the present month.
No Shortage Yet Found.
mn II