The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-04-16

for many years with an obstinate
stomach ailment, had not given his
family or friends any intimation
that he intended taking his life. He
visited Long Prairie on Friday, and
during his visit here greeted friends
and acquaintance in his usual
CHEEKY way. Neither on Tuesday
did any of his actions arouse the
concern of his family. Shortly af-
ter o'clock that morning Mr..
Theirs, with his dog going along
walked down the road which runs
east from his residence across the
road from the District No. School
house in Round Prairie township.
He crossed the old No. highway
and proceeded east a short distance,
then turned south into the swamp
alongside the road and made his
way for almost mile into the
dense growth of tamarack.
There he seems to have sat down
near a stump to brood over the cir
cumstances which during the past
few years have changed his lot in
life from that of nan of average
prosperity to condition wherein
he had become a tenant after the
loss of his farm in Grey Eagle
township through financial reverses.
There were evidences that he had
spent some time celebrating be-
fore he finally decided upon taking
his own life. Some of the intimate
trinkets which men carry in their
pockets, as well as his mittens, had
been carefully placed on top of the
stump, so that they might be there
discovered after his death.
When he left his home farm.
Mr.. Theirs had taken from a gran
airy a stick of dynamite, although
no member of his family was aware
of this fact. Lying on the stump,
after his body had been found, was
a pointed stick, which he had shap-
ed in order to puncture the dyna-
mite stick for insertion of the cap
and fuse. The position of Mr.. Theirs
body when found, and the nature
of the wounds disclosed by the
coroner's examination, suggested
that he had prepared the dynamite
for firing, then laid down upon it
and touched a match to the fuse.
The explosion which followed NOV
the body a space of from six to
eight feet, and of course caused in
Simultaneous death. A portion of
Mr.. Theirs coat was found on a
small bush fully 20 feet from the
body, indicating the terrific force
of the explosion which had taken
his life.
While members of the family
had wondered because he had not
returned during the day, no alarm
was felt until the dog, which had
accompanied him in the morning
when he left the house returned
shortly before the supper hour. A
son accompanied by Mr.. Swanson
who was a visitor at the Theirs
home, then started out to search
for Mr.. Theirs and were guided to
his lifeless remains by the dog. A
son then came to Long Prairie
and notified Undertaken Clarence
Olson, who in turn advised Sheriff
Adams and Coroner Fred Soule,
of Browerville. The latter accom-
PANIED by Editor Sutton, of the
Browerville Blade came to Long
Prairie where Sheriff Adams, De-
putty K. C. Adams, Understaker
Olson and Clifford Denny joined
him all going at once to the Theirs
farm.
I'm view of the facts disclosed by
questioning of members of Mr..
Theirs family and after seeing the
conditions under which the body
was found. Coroner Soule decided
that holding of an inquest was I'M
necessary and gave permission for
removal of the body to Long
Prairie where it was prepared for
interment.
"The tragic death of Mr.. Theirs
is vegetable one, and there are
many throughout the southeastern
part of Todd county who will find
it difficult to belive that this like
able handwriting, honest and up
right man could become so de-
spondent as to turn his own hand
against himself. He had resided
for many years in the Wards
Springs, Burtrum and Grey Eagle
communities and had made a wide
circle of staunch friends.
"Mr. Theirs was born in the
township of Brockway in Stearns
county May, s, 1870, the son of Mr..
and Mrs. Joseph Theirs. When he
was a child of six years of age his
parents moved from Minnesota to
Jasper county, Illinois, where John
grew to young manhood and was
married at the age of % years to
Miss Rachel Regina Emmett. To
this union one son, William John
Theirs, now of St. Paul was born.
MRS. Theirs passed away in
Illinois in 1898, whereupon Mr..
Theirs shortly aftward moved
back to Sank Centre, where he was
later again married to Miss Lillian
Tibetts in 1900. Mr.. and Mrs.
Theirs lived for a time in Sank
Centre, then moved to Ward
Springs and later to the Burtrum
community. He then purchased a
farm in Grey Eagle, where he re-
sided for seven years. Financial re-
verses caused him to lose his farm
and in October of last year he
moved to the farm on which he re-
sided until his death.
TN addition to the above men,
toned son Mr. Theirs is survived