The Springdale news., 1917-05-25
WALTER PRUNER
COMMITS SUICIDE
Walter Primer Commits Suicide head
Wen Wnown Farmer Kills Self Sun
day Morning-Ill Health Cause
of Act
iii health is the cause of this.
ii seems | can't live. No III will
to anyone. Coed bye to all, and
God bless you ALL"

10 dHyVle SON0 USe To all, ana
God bless you all"
With the above as his last words to
relatives on tbs earth, Walter Prun-
er, one Of the best known farmers and
stoekmen IN this section, placed a
single barrel shotgun to his forehead.
and using a crooked stick to pull the
trigger, fired the shot that took away
almost the entire top of his head The
deed was committed Sunday morning
between nine thirty and eleven thirty,
while he was alone, and death must
have been instantaneous.
Walter Primer had been making his
home for some time with his brother,
John, near Spring Valley. For the
past two weeks he had been acting
strange, but being afflicted with aber-
eulosis, his brother did not anticipate
any such rash act, and consequently
was not expecting him to commit
such deed, as to take his own life
Sunday morning, the deceased arose
as usual, ate q very hearty breakfast,
and was around the house about as
usual
About half past nine, John Primer.
the brother, and his wife left for Sun
day School, and as they were driving
away from the house saw Walter just
entering the yard carrying small
stick This was the last time he was
seen alive, and It is supposed that the
stick he was carrying was the one he
SO carefully whitfield out, SO that the
crook would just fit over the trigger.
They thought nothing of the matter
and returned home about haIf after
eleven. The door to the room Of the
deceased was closed, and the window
blind lowered. but this was nothing
unusual, as he was in the habit of
lying down, and writing in his room
on Sunday. No attempt was made TO
disturb him until dinner was ready,
and Mrs. Pruner went 70 the door of
his room, calling twice and he did not
answer, started into the room The
door was opened OILY part dy, when
she noticed blood on me aoor, and the
feet Of the deceased we're sticking oat
from behind The half open door She
called her husband. ard ne found the
body in a half reclining position,
fixed in such a way as 10 be almost
hidden when the door should be open
ed. bur the shot had struck almost
squarely between the eyes, tearing al
most the entire top from his head.
The stick was found stu clutched in
the dead mans hand.
Funeral services were held Monday
afternoon at three o'clock at Spring
Valley, conducted by Rev /. L. John
son, and the remains inferred in the
cemetery at that place.
Deceased IS survived by two broth
ers, John, At Spriar Valley and Il.
P, at Anadarko. Okla, ana a sister.
Mrs. NJ. A. Cardwell, Of Logan, this
state. All were present except Il. p.
who was unable TO reach Springda!e
in time for the funeral.
Walter Primer was one Of the best
business men in this section Of the
state. He was successful and his af-
fairs at the time OF his death are N
almost perfect condition. In the let
ter written Just before his death, re
gives instructions to his brother IS to
some business affairs, about property
interests he had in Colorado, and
about some other affairs. The letter
was written IN clear, steady, legible
hand, in no way appearing to nave
been written by man living under
undue excitement or worry.
For the past three weeks he has
hardly been able TO Get around, al
though he had in extensive crops on
the Putnam and Butler farms on
White River, and was interested in
bunch Of cattle at the Harp farm.
Since the act has been committed rela-
tives and friends can see by his ac-
tions that he evidently planned the
deed for some time before the culmi-
alton. His wife has been dead some
time. He was at one time associated
with Allen Sanders in the mercantile
business at Spring Valley, and the
firm Of Sanders & Primer vas well
known through this section.
Washington county, ana especially
Spring Valley has lost a coed citizen
in the passing Of Waiter Pruner; he
enjoyed the confidence and trust OF
his friends and neighbors.