From The Sun, Portland, IN (newspaper), 29 Feb. 1908
I copied this while researching the Jay Co. newspapers today. Maybe it will
be of help to someone. It is certainly interesting, to say the least.
Several Headlines as follows:
Man Suicided With Corn Cutter
Martin Coulson, Residing near Walnut Corners, Ends His Own Life.
Daughter Was Present
Had Gone to the Barn in Search Of Him - Was Despondent Over Failing to Rent
a Farm.
Article reads as follows:
Martin Coulson, living on the E. D. Robinson farm in Greene township, two
miles west of Walnit Corner, committed suicide Wednesday forenoon by cutting
his throat with a corn cutter. The act of self-destruction was committed in
the barn only a short distance from the house and was witnessed by a
daughter who arrived on the scene too late to prevent her father from
inflicting the mortal wound. In her efforts to wrench the ghastly weapon
from his hands, the daughter's finger was severely cut by coming in contact
with the edge of the knife. Seeing that she was powerless to prevent the
deed, she summoned her mother who succeeded in getting the knife away from
her husband and as she did so his lifeless body fell limp at her feet. So
intent was he on making sure of the knife getting in its deadly work that
even after the wife had arrived at his side and the jugular vein had been
severed permitting the life's blood to flow profusely from the wound, he was
still drawing the blade back and forth accross his throat. A physician was
immediately summoned, but realizing that he could do no good summoned County
Coroner Perry who requested that the body be cared for until he arrived
after which he conducted an inquest. The daughter, mother and a neighbor
were examined as witnesses.
It is believed that the act was committed in a state of despondency,
resulting from his having been notified that it would be necessary for him
to vacte the farm by March 1, next, and until the time of his death he had
been unable to secure another. He had seemingly been in a very melencholy
mood for the past few days and before leaving for the barn had been making
arrangements to come to this city to consult a real estate dealer. His
daughter was preparing to accompany him to town and had become alarmed
through his slowness in hitching up the horse and had gone to ascertain the
cause when she was greeted with the grewsome sight.
Mr. Coulson as the son of the late Lot Coulson, one of the pioneer
residents of this county. He was past fifty-seven years of age and is
survived by his wife, two daughters and one son. T. W. Coulson, residing on
North Commerce street, this city, is a brother. The funeral services were
conducted Friday forenoon and the remains were interred in the Pennville
cemetery.
Rex Bertram
PO Box 651
Redkey, IN 47373
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