The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-11-08
M'CLUSKEY TAKES HIS
OWN L|FE...WAS PHYS.
|CAL GIANT % YRS.OLO

Robt. McCluskey, aged about 90 yrs,
whose home was near McAlister, took
poison last Thursday evening and died
few minutes later.
Mr.. McCluskey was drafted into the
National Army and passed the best
possible physical test. He was giant
in strength and was said to have been
the largest and best built young man
out Of five hundred examined by the
local examining board. He was in
Tucumcari last Tuesday week ago
to see Sheriff Street about when he
would b. called to go to war. Mr..
Street told him he would not be call
ed for at least two weeks and il may
be two months as he had received no
tice not to send more men to Camp
Funston until notified to the contrary.
McCluskey was very much disappoint-
ed. He said he wanted TO go now, be-
cause if he didn't he would have to
move from where he then lived.
Two days later he told his father
in-law, j. p. Stockton, with whom he
lived, that he wanted to go over to
neighbor's and settle an account, but
instead he drove to Melrose where he
spent several hours. He bought some
strychnine and told the druggist he
wanted to kill some wolves that were
bothering around his place. He was
seemingly in the best of spirits when
he left for home He drove back to
his fathers place two miles east of
McAlister and called his father out
Of the house. He told his father if he
wanted to see him alive he had bet
ter come over to Mr.. Stockton's right
away as he was going to take poison.
He drove to McAlister where he pur-
chased writing tablet handing 25c
piece in exchange for same. He told
Mr.. Bond that was the last money he
ever expected to spend there as he had
taken strychnine and would die. Also
that if he did not get home before he
died to tell his folks what he had done
and they would come after him.
When he passed the home of Mr..
Underwood, about a mile from where
his wife was, he stopped the car few
minutes. Then he started at break
neck speed for home. When near the
house his wife came running out to
meet him as they had been notified by
telephone from McAlister that he had
said he intended to take poison, but
McClusky had not stopped the car be-
fore Mr.. Stockton had caught his
daughter and was keeping her away
from her husband who was seemingly
l. L. l.. Il
strychnine and held out another bot
tie toward his wife as though he want
ed her to get it. Mr.. Underwood was
called over the phone to come and as
sist the family as young McClusky
was thought to be dangerous. A lady
living few hundred yards away was
called and as she came into the yard
he thought it was the doctor. He ran
and jumped the fence going out in
the field. Then ne returned and climb
ed back in the yard where he fell face
foremost on the ground. Just then Mr..
Underwood came up and went out
to where he was and heard him utter
these words: MAN of the land turn
me over"
MI CHueiWoou, DeiIp ldTRt man
picked McCluskey up and pvt him
over his shoulder and carried him in
the house putting him on the bed.
Raw eggs had been prepared and the
young man ate them all but one, but
they did no good as death came to his
relief in short time.
Mr.. McClusky was a young man
of splendid reputation and was liked
by all who knew him. He was mar
ried to Miss Velma Stockton, daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. J. p. Stockton
of McAlister, about five months ago.
They had gone to housekeeping when
he was drafted few months ago. he
was notified to leave with the second
quota and reported at Tucumcari for
that purpose, but as there were more
than enough to fill out the desired
number he was allowed to return home
in order that he might SOW some wheat
and transact other desired matters of
Importance before it became necessary
for him to go into training camp for
service in the National Army.
Funeral service were held Friday
and the remains were laid to rest in
the Yeager cemetery near McAlister.