DUFFY, Henry V. 1864 - 1897

DUFFY

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 5/7/2007 at 16:56:34

Henry Duffy, prominent Waukon business man, was found dead in his store on the morning of April 27, 1897, by Emmet Hall, a clerk.

A coroner's jury of John Eddy, Frank Robbins and R.H. Stilwell, brought in a verdict of murder by parties unknown.

Source: Allamakee Journal, Lansing, Iowa, April 1897

*NOTE*
I'm not related to the deceased and have no further information.

DOB: 12 April 1864
DOD: 27 April 1897

Source: Woodmansee Cemetery Records

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Added by Joy Moore on 9/17/2017:

from the Iowa Plain Dealer, May 4, 1897, FP, C7

On the morning of April 27, Henry V. Duffy was found dead with a bullet hole through his breast in his office at Waukon. He was the head of the largest mercantile firm in the city. When found he was but partially dressed and had a revolver with all chambers loaded grasped in his hand. He slept up stairs over his place of business.—Calmar Courier

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Added by Joy Moore on 12/12/2020:

Source: Decorah Republican Apr. 29, 1897 P 1 C 3

MURDER OR SUICIDE?
A Question Arising at Waukon over the Dead Body of Henry V. Duffy.

FOUND DEAD IN HIS STORE Tuesday Morning, with a Bullet Hole in his Body over the Heart.

Waukon, April 27. This town was shocked from end to end when the news flew like lightning that Henry V. Duffy was found dead on his office floor at 8 o’clock this morning with a bullet hole through his heart.

Mr. Duffy, aged about 32 years of age, unmarried, was the head of one of the two largest mer­cantile establishments in Allamakee county. He was one of the most prominent young men in business and social circles of this town, and as an ex-cap­tain of the town National Guard he was widely known throughout the state in military circles. He belonged to an old and most highly respected and pro­minent family. His father, who died but recently, was ex-county treasurer, and his brother is the cashier of the Citizens’ Bank of Waukon.

He was found in the condition stated when Messrs. Hall and Hermanson, clerks in the store, opened the place this morning at the hour named. He was lying on his back in his private office and in his right hand he clutched a 38-callbre revolver. The revolver was cocked, but not a chamber was empty.

Mr. Duffy sleeps over the store, and his bed room is connected with the store by a stairway, the bottom of which is near the office in the rear of the store. Mr. Duffy had only his night clothes on when discovered by his clerks.

The horrible affair has thrown the town into a chaotic state, and the people are divided in their opinion between murder and suicide. At first it was believed to have been suicide, but the finding of all the chambers in the revolver loaded caused a sensation and a change of opinion. The murder the­ory was further strengthened when later on another revolver with one chamber empty was found on the floor a short distance away.

He had no known enemies and no motive is known for suicide. The general sentiment to­night is that he heard burglars in the store beneath his bedroom, went down and was shot to death. The assassin then in his hurry to escape hurridly placed the revolver with all the cham­bers loaded in the dead man’s hand. There was no evidence, however, of robbery.

Dr. Meyers, the coroner, empaneled a jury of five of the most prominent citizens as follows: Ex-Mayor Eaton, Attorney H. H. Stillwell, J. M. Eddy, Ex-Postmaster Robbins and Dr. Cain. This jury is making a thorough inves­tigation and some light is expected to be thrown on the most shocking event in Waukon’s history.