Clark, William P. 'Will' died 1903

CLARK, OPFER, BURTON, STEVENS, LETOURNEAU, STROCK, LARSON, JONES, WILLIAMS, CROWDER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/13/2014 at 19:01:37

Elgin Echo, Thursday, 5 Feb. 1903.

Wm. Clark, a Waukon barber, drank carbolic acid with suicidal intent. An hour after taking the stuff he was discovered by his wife. A physician was summoned but Clark died ten minutes after the arrival of the doctor.

__________

Added by L.A., 06/19/2015:

SAD SUICIDE

W.P. Clark, the Barber, Ends Life's Troubles, With a Dose of Carbolic Acid.

About 2 p.m. Thursday the news flew from mouth to mouth that Will Clark, the barber, had taken his own life through the medium of a dose of carbolic acid at his home in the western part of town. To say that it is shocking the community would be putting it very mildly.

The circumstances are as follows:
Since selling out his business here several months ago, Mr. Clark has been absent, at first going to Tracey, Minn., and afterward to Watertown, S.D., his family still remaining here. He returned home Wednesday evening and was around town Thursday forenoon seemingly as free from care as usual. During the forenoon he bought a six ounce bottle of carbolic acid at John Opfer's drug store, saying that his wife wanted it for disinfecting purposes. He went home, ate his dinner after reading awhile, kissed his wife and said he would take his valise upstairs, read awhile and then sleep. In five or ten minutes, Mrs. Clark, without feeling any uneasiness went upstairs, and not finding him in their usual sleeping apartment, went to the other rooms and in one of them found him lying on the bed, with his arms folded on his breast. He made no move or sound but instinctively knowing that something was wrong she ran to her neighbor, Mrs. Jo Burton, for help. The latter ran over to the house and afterward to Mrs. Stevens where she telephoned for Dr. Letourneau. The Dr. got there as soon as possible but Mr. Clark was dead. He had poured into a glass half the contents of the six ounce bottle carbolic acid and taken most of it. He had then replaced the glass on the stand and laid down on the bed.

There was no indication of any struggle or suffering, the dose being so large that suffocation ensued almost immediately and it is probable that he was dead when his wife discovered him. The rash act was undoubtedly committed in a period of despondency.

Coroner Strock held an inquest with Anton Larson, J. B. Jones and Dan Williams as jurors, who rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts.

The deceased was 35 years old last November. He is survived by his wife and five children. The funeral took place Sunday afternoon at two o'clock under the auspices of the M.W. A., in which society Mr. Clark carried $1,000 insurance. Religious services, Rev. Crowder officiating, were held at the residence and the remains were interred in the family lot in Oakland cemetery.

~Waukon news section, Allamakee Journal, 4 Feb. 1903 P 3 C 4

--

Geo. Clark, who is on the road for a Chicago hat and cap house, attended the funeral of his brother, William, Sunday, and departed for Postville the same evening.

~Allamakee Journal, 4 Feb. 1903 P 3 C 3

___________________________

Added by Joy Moore 10/13/2019:

Source: Decorah Republican Feb. 5, 1903 Page 7 Col 6

Suicide at Waukon
W. P. Clark, a Waukon barber, committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid. The act was committed at his home on Thursday, the 29th last. Clark had taken the Keeley cure at one time, but deviated from his good in­tentions, became despondent, and took his life. He leaves a wife and five children.