The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-20
LEAP NOT FATAL,
GREENSBORO Man
BROWNS HIMSELF
William Ellis Jumps From
Bridge Here and Pushes
Self Into Deep Water.

William Ellis. 80 years old, grocer
of Greensboro. committed suicide by
leaping seventy feet from the Penn
sylvania railroad bridge in Richmond
to the shadows of Whitewater river,
about 10:45 Tuesday morning.
Ellis was married and was the
father of five children. He came to
Richmond by automobile Tuesday
morning with his brother-in-law, John
Quigley. He had been living on a
farm between Richmond and Green's
fork, known as the Flatley farm, and
had just finished remodeling the house
it is said.
Temporary insanity was the only
reason that Greensboro persons could
assign for the suicide. Ellis was pop
ular with everyone who knew him,
and his habits go far as is known were
Of the best. He suffered q nervous
breakdown last Tuesday.
Ellis was walking out toward the
center of the bridge about fifty feet
from the east end, when he was met
by H. w. Potts, Indianapolis travelling
salesman, who was using the bridge
as short cut from the west side.
Two Exchange Salutations
The two men exchanged greeting.
said Potts in his story of the suicide.
Ellis had gone about fifteen feet to-
ward the east end of the bridge when
he heard Ellis call:
Say. pardner, hold my hat and
coat, will you?"
He turned and saw Ellis about to
leap, with his hat and coat lying on
the bridge at his side.
Don't do that Wait a minute"
Potts said he called to him, and start
ed back, intending to hold him from
the leap
rive got to do it! I'm in trouble. -
Ellis replied, Potts said, and before he
could reach him Ellis leaped.
Ellis struck in the shadows of White
water, where the water is about foot
deep, said two other witnesses, Rob
ert Krause, of Cleves. Ohio. and Stan
ley Silver, of Cincinnati, both mem
bers of fencing gang on the C. and
o. railroad. who were at the east end
of the bridge.
Not Killed by Fall.
Ellis was not killed by the fall. said
the two men, although he struck the
shadows in spread-eagle fashion. He
turned over on his back and, using
deep water. showing fierce determine
tion to end his life. One or two
feeble struggles were seen after he
was carried out into the deep water.
The body floated down to a point
| just above the Doran bridge, where
police and spectators had gathered. A
| man whose name was not learned.
waded out into the water. which is
R-o SIao
body to shore.
1t was taken to the police station
| where Mont Bailey. who lives near
Greensboro and works in the Grand
! hotel in Richmond, identified the dead
man as Ellis Papers were found in
| his pocket also identifying him. Sew
eral other persons acquainted witt
him confirmed the Identification with
in a few minutes.
/ Coroner S. Edgar Bond viewed the
body and said there was no doub'
that he would return a verdict of death
by suicide, and probably by drowning
instead of the fall
AS soon as communication could BIZ
established with Greensboro. relatives
directed that the body be removed t,
local undertaking establishment.
Well Known in Greensboro.
Ellis was well known at Greensboro
and in the surrounding community
His brother. John Ellis, is postmas
ter at Greensboro. and the two mel
owned the Ellis grocery in partner
ship. Francis Ellis, another brother
is in the naval hospital at Washington
ill of an attack of influenza contracted
in the service.
Ellis had just bought large farm
between Webster and Greensboro, an
had removed his family to it from
Greensboro only short time ago.
widow, Mary Ellis, and five children
survive, besides the two brothers an
the father and mother