George Washington Bale 1871-1927

BALE, JOHNSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/20/2011 at 21:15:36

Geo. Bale, Well Known Business Man Take His Life Here
Arrived Home Last Night.
Left His Family At Cedar Rapids, Ia. Friday

Geo. Bale, who has been for years a well-known retail druggist in this city, shot and killed himself this morning probably about four o’clock in the rear of his home. H. M. Lambert resides on Howard St. The Lambert home is the first home east of the Bale home. Appearances are that Mr. Bale placed the butt of his shot gun on the ground and then placed the muzzle just under his ribs on the right side. He then reached over and probably pushed the trigger with his thumb. This made the charge of shot enter the body above the liver going across the left side. There is just the one hole about the size of the end of the gun where the shot entered the body.

Only last Thursday Mr. Bale and his family motored to Cedar Rapids to spend the Fourth with Mrs. Bale’s sister, Mrs. Chas. Holmquist. One son had a position in Cedar Rapids and was there and the rest of the family went by car. Just before he left he stopped the junior editor on the street and told him to go to his home and pick all the flowers we wanted as he would be gone for a little while. When asked about where he was going he replied, “Oh, Cedar Rapids and some other points. Don’t say anything about it.” We knew George had always been averse to any publicity.

It seems Mr. Bale had intended to take the family to Cedar Rapids and then he motored to Des Moines as he had his plans made. His Paige car needed some attention and he took it to Des Moines soon after he got to Cedar Rapids. On Tuesday morning about eleven o’clock Mat Donovan saw him going by a garage there and called him in. At that point he informed Mr. Donovan he had intended to drive back to Cedar Rapids. However he had changed his plans and was going back to Estherville. Mr. Donovan says he took Mr. Bale through the Hudson place and they talked about all cars. He says George was in fair spirits, although he knew Mr. Bale was in rather poor health.

Owing to the fact that the Paige had just been overhauled Mr. Bale must have had to drive rather slow coming here and must have left Des Moines soon after he talked with Mr. Donovan. He must have stopped on the road probably for supper. A Tribune of Tuesday’s date was found in his home this morning after the home was opened. Mr. Bale’s Tribune is still in the Gardston drug store.

Some of the neighbors say they heard him drive in about ten-thirty last night. The Lambert family was surprised to see a light in the home. They saw the car in the garage and knew the Bales must have returned home.

It was about six thirty o’clock this morning when Mr. Lambert discovered Mr. Bale lying face down in Mr. Lambert’s back yard. Lloyd Crim whose home is just west of the Lambert place and their back yards adjoining, says it was about four-fifteen he thinks when he heard a shot. He arose and looked out of the window but he could neither hear or see anything out of the ordinary. Mrs. Crim said at the same time she smelled powder. He thought it was a firecracker as there has been much firecracker shooting for the past few nights.

No one will ever know just what happened as far as we or any of the people who looked over the home could find. There was no note left. The only thing we found was a slip of paper lying on top of a writing tablet with Mrs. Holmquist’s address in Cedar Rapids.

It was evident that Mr. Bale came home, stayed around the house until late. The fact that the bed had been occupied indicated that he retired. The bed covers indicated he had slept but little for they were badly mussed up. He had evidently arose in the night and gone to the bathroom. This seemed to be where he remained as his pipe was on the table and was rather warm when we picked it up. His glasses were folded and lying on the back of a little table in the bath room. The Chicago Tribune of Tuesday’s date was on a stool where he had evidently folded and laid it. In the toilet was evidently the remains of several pipes of tobacco. This indicted that he had sat there for some time. There were also some ashes in the pipe when we picked it up.

Mr. Bale had left his grip in the front hall and had not unpacked it. His shot gun case and shells were found in a little hall on the first floor. He had evidently gone down and taken the gun out of the case and went right out of the house. All he had on when found was his night gown with his pants pulled over the gown.

Mr. Bale has worried a great deal since the Iowa Savings Bank closed. His loss we think was not so much, as was the loss of other members of the family. Mr. Bale had become very bitter over the loss. He had employed Rayner & Co. to look after his interest and this also had added to his worries. He was in poor health all the time and the strain was too great for him. He has stopped in our office many times and we have never once heard him complain of his health, although we knew he was in poor condition.

Coroner Wilson was ill and he deputized Dr. Bradley to take his place. It was over an hour before any doctor arrived. The family was called at Cedar Rapid and notified and the remains were removed to Mahlum & Anderson undertaking rooms. The family will arrive this afternoon by auto. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, June 29, 1927)

Find George Bale Dead
Body of Retired Druggist Found Lying on Shot Gun in Neighbor’s Yard; Will Hold Inquest This Afternoon

George Bale, fifty-five year old retired druggist, was found dead at 6:30 this morning (Wednesday) back of his home at 914 E. Howard street. A twelve gauge repeating shot gun upon which he had fallen, and a pool of blood, mutely testified suicide.

Harley Lambert, his neighbor on the west, found the body in his own yard this morning, where it had lain not more than an hour and a half, as accurately as could be known. The body was found face down, as he had fallen, clothed only in night clothing, trousers and socks, and with a ragged hole beneath his right lung.

Crim Hears Shot
A shot was heard at five o’clock this morning by L. E. Crim, who lives nearbye, but he stated that he thought it a large fire cracker. Mrs. H. M. Ireland also reports having heard the shot at five o’clock.

The coroner’s inquest will be held this afternoon when Mrs. Bale returns from Cedar Rapids.

Mr. and Mrs. Bale had gone to Cedar Rapids to visit their sons, William and George, Jr., who are working there and it is thought they intended to remain there for the Fourth. Mr. Bale, however, returned alone in the car last night about ten o’clock. A light was seen at the Bale home at that time.

Fail to Find Note
This morning the car was in the garage, with repair tools nearbye, and the garage doors were open. Since Mr. Bale has been in poor health, he has not been allowed to drive the car alone, and this is evidence that he may have left Cedar Rapids without giving notice.

The doors of the house were locked this morning, but a search made for any note he might have left proved fruitless.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, June 29, 1927)

Obituary of George Washington Bale
George Washington Bale was born at Iowa City, Iowa, on the 13th day of October, 1871, and died at Estherville, Iowa, June 29, 1927, at the age of 55 years. 8 months and 16 days. He grew to young manhood and received his education in Iowa City. Early in life he chose his life work, the profession of pharmacy and from the training that he received as he worked at both Iowa City and Fort Dodge he became very efficient as a druggist. He came to Estherville in the year 1900 and took up the drug business for Dr. Anderson. In 1912 he and his brother-in-law, John Johnson, went into business for themselves taking charge of the drug store in the then new hotel, The Gardston. After a few years he became sole owner of the store. On account of failing health a little over a year ago he sold his business. With the thought that he might regain his health he planned to spend a great deal of his time in the open. He loved to work among his flowers. He had also planned an extended trip for this summer.

At Estherville on the 16th day of July, 1902, he was married to Miss Lucy Johnson. To this happy union two sons were born, William and George. He was a great lover of his home and he lived for his dear ones. He also leaves two brothers, William, of Galena, Ill., and Bert of South Dakota. Mr. Bale was a member of the Elk lodge of this city.

The funeral services were held from the home Friday afternoon conducted by Rev. Davies and the body was laid to rest in the Estherville cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, July 6, 1927)