Barron, W. L. died 1880

BARRON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 6/5/2022 at 19:02:49

Elkader Register, Thur., 20 May 1880. From the McGregor Times, undated.

Suicide at McGregor.

The community was shocked this morning, (the 13th inst.) by the announcement that W. L. Barron, of the firm of C. H. & W. L. Barron, wholesale grocers, and nephew of E. R. & C. H. Barron, had committed suicide in his room at the residence of C. H. Barron, by shooting himself through the head. The report proved but too true, and the particulars are as follows:

For some weeks past Mr. Barron has been in the east, at Concord, N.H., visiting with relatives and ostensibly with the hope of improving his health, which has been very much impaired for the last couple years. He returned home Wednesday forenoon, and remained confined to the house, not feeling as well as usual and also being greatly fatigued. As the evidence was given before the inquest this forenoon, he has appeared greatly depressed of late, as though something was working upon his mind. No known cause for the rash act is given, as he was in excellent circumstances financially and had before him a bright and promising future.

About ten o'clock Thursday morning the shot was heard and on going to his room he was found dead. He had evidently taken deliberate aim and with a determination to end life instantly. A small pocket pistol was used, the muzzle held to the mouth, pointing upward, the ball passing up into the roof of the mouth and through the head coming out the crown, the ball lodging in the ceiling of the room, scattering the plastering which fell down by the bedside.

An inquest was held this forenoon, by Esquire Hoxsie, C. F. Bell, E. Douglass and Wm. F. Huntting, who after evidence returned a verdict of "death from a pistol shot, fired by his own hand."

Mr. Barron was a young man about 28 years of age, and for a number of years was engaged in the dry goods store of his uncle, E. R. Barron, and something over a year ago entered into partnership with his uncle, C. H. Barron, in the wholesale grocery business, in which the firm has been quite prosperous. _ McGregor Times.