Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-22
JUDGE MITCHELL
TAKES own LIFE.
IN LAW OFFICE
Well Known Local Lswyer!
Found BY Son With
Pistol in Hand. 1
WRITES WISHES
ABOUT FI]NERAL|

/ xAx1OO i AA11DAD8v0AAA
lFrom Tuesdayg pety)
Judge Joseph C. M5tchol1, . veteran
lawyer and well known citizen, ended
his life last night by shooting. Hisl
lifeless body was found in his ohice|
about midnight by hts son Pssl whot
had gone to search for his fAthev whenl
the latter failed to come home.
A bullet wound in the back Of hisl
head and the pistol with which kwas!
inflicted, grasped In the cold and
rigid hand Of the veteran juf1st, told
the. fale. No cause II assigned for tho
rash act, although It was douodssA
prearranged for m autobiography with
instructions for burial WAS written BY
the dscedent and found IN his Office
after his death.
LIVED WITH SON AT HOME Fl
Since the death of his wife siE
year, ago. Judge Mitchell and SOM
Paul lived at the family home, 221
North Green street. Upon his father
failing to reach home last night, Paul
left the house and walked 10 The law
Office Of his father where often he.
would ind the elder man asleep In .
chair and together they would 90
home for the night.
Upon entering the Office lest night.
he FOND his father In tie old favorito
rocking chair as usual, Dut he knew hs
was not asleep. Usually upon Paul
entering the room the elder man would
waken, but he did not do this last
night. When he turned on the light
in the outer office. the son noticed q
pool Of blood on the floor and i'm.
mediately made an examination Of his
fathers remains.
FOUND SITTING IN CHAIR
The bullet wound showed that the
shot had entered the base Of the skull;
and came out at the top of the head
Apparently he tried the pistol before
shooting himself or else shot twic4
after being struck for on two opposito2
walls Of the room are marks where
bullets struck. One penetrated the
partition, coming out in the next room.
while the other wall being brick, tho
ball rebounded out on the floor The
body reclined in the chair as at rest
but showed evidence of death having
occurred two hours before discovery
Two sons. Paul OF Ottumwa and
Mark Of Abba. and ono daughter, Mrss
Frank Williams Of Davenport. survive1
The latter arrived here today Ona
sister, MISC Eliza Mitchell OF Oscsolo
also survives.
WRITES AUTOBIOGRAPHY
The following statement prepared
by the decedent himself gives sketch
Of his life:
II was born January 20, 1S49, In
Monroe county. Indiana. Moved with
my parents to Lucas county. Iowa, the
fall Of 1850. The fall OF 1856 moved
with my parents to Osceola. Clarke
county, Iowa. IN the fall Of 1866 I
went to school Mt Mt Pleasant and
graduated in June. 1871. remained
at Mt. PleasanE studying law With
Amber Bros. and Babb until the SUM
mer Of 1872. when was admitted to
the bar. commenced the practice OF
law at Charlton in January, 1873, and
there until October, 1893,
when moved to Ottumwa where my
home has ever since been.
Il was married in April, 1875. Ny
wife died December 2. 1919. and II
buried on lot own In Charlton
where desire to be buried.
When die / want only a plain inex.
pensive funeral, conducted by the
order or the Odd Fellows.
both OF which orders am b member
Of. My Odd Fellowship membership
being IN the lodge at Charlton, my
membership IL Lodge No. 10
Of Masons in Ottumwa."
VETERAN LAWYER
YuI~n To~o~h n 1fxaAoN ~.
twenty-five years been an active rep
Of the Ottumwa bar. while
Tor forty-fve years he has been d
practitioner in Iowa.
In January, 1873. he opened an Of.
dee Of his own in Charlton, Ia. where
he practiced for twenty years, after
which he served one year on the
bench Of his district, being appointed
by Governor Boies. But in 1893 he
moved to Ottumwa. where hs resumed
private practice, which was coeEiuned
until the time of his death.
Judge Mitchell attended the Eudsco.
pal church and for many years Vas Z
member in the Masonic and Odd Fels
low organizations. also being q mems
Dor Of the Sons OF the American Revo.
luton.
The body may be viewed at the Sui
ivan chapel tomorrow from . Z. N.
Until 2:30 p. m. and the funera w.ll
,e held from the chapel to Trinity
Episcopal church where at 3 O'Clock
service VIII be conducted The r,
mains will leave over the Bu11hgA0
It 4:68 for Charlton whore inteYmou,
will take place Thursday ct 10 q m.
n charge Of the Masonic order. Inter
nent will be beside his wife.
FUNERAL OF CHARLTON MAN