Glen B. Lawrence, 1883-1908

LAWRENCE, GOODMAN, HIGINBOTHAM

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/13/2011 at 00:14:52

Committed Suicide
Glen Lawrence Shoots Himself With 32-Caliber Revolver
At Home of His Father
At Two o’clock Tuesday Morning
No Cause Assigned for Rash Act – Funeral Today

Glen B. Lawrence, son of L. L. Lawrence, residing at his father’s home on east Maple street, committed suicide at 2:30 Tuesday [December 8, 1908] morning by shooting himself in the head with a 32-caliber revolver. Death was instantaneous.

He came home from town about two o’clock and went to his room. After remaining in his room a few minutes he went to the bath room. He came back to his room again and in a few moments made another trip to the bath room. His father heard him going back and forth and went upstairs to see what the trouble was. When he entered Glen’s room he found him sitting on the side of the bed, half undressed and smoking a cigarette. He asked him what the trouble was and he made no reply except that he owed Byfield $2.00 and he wanted him to go and pay it in the morning. His father asked him again what the trouble was and he reached under the bed clothes and pulled out the revolver and fired a bullet into his temple, killing himself while his father stood within a few feet of him. Neighbors were at once notified and a doctor was summoned but he was dead.

Glen Lawrence was born October 9, 1883, at Hazelton, Iowa, and had resided in Emmet county for seventeen years, part of this time residing in Armstrong. He was twenty-five years of age at the time of his death. Funeral services will be held at the house at two o’clock Wednesday afternoon. It is evident he made all arrangements to commit suicide before he went home. He left no word, however, but the fact that he had the revolver is evidence conclusive that he intended taking his own life as he was not in the habit of carrying a revolver. An inquest was held by Coroner Wilson Tuesday afternoon. The jury was composed of Alex Johnston, E. E. Hartung, Dr. E. W. Bachman, H. C. Coon and Chas. Reed and a verdict of suicide rendered. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, December 9, 1908)

Committed Suicide
Glenn I. Lawrence Sends a Bullet Through His Brain – Dies Instantly [Glen B. Lawrence]
No Cause for the Crime
Had Been Drinking Some. Believed That He Was Discouraged

Glenn L. Lawrence of this city, shot and killed himself almost instantly at 2:15 o’clock Tuesday morning at the home of his father on east Howard street. No cause is known for the young man taking his life unless it was in a fit of temporary insanity or perhaps because he was discouraged.

He came home from down town about two o’clock Tuesday morning and went to his room, undressed for bed, and called his father, who went to see what his son desired. He told his father that he would like to have him pay a small bill he owed at W. A. Byfield’s restaurant and this his father said he would do. He seemed to be perfectly rational and his father thought nothing about his unusual request, and talked to him in a fatherly manner and asked him if he could not brace up and settle down to business and asked him if he new of any reason why he could not. He said he did not and immediately reached under the bed clothes, pulled out a 32-calibre revolver, placed the muzzle to his head above the right ear and sent a bullet into his brain. He fell to the floor and died instantly. It was done so suddenly that his father did not have time to prevent the awful tragedy that was enacted before his very eyes.

Mr. Lawrence is almost prostrated with grief for although his son was wayward he loved him, and coming to his death in this manner makes the sorrow all the more intense. Deceased was a young man only twenty-six years of age, and his untimely death in this manner is deplored by all. Funeral is to be held from the residence Wednesday afternoon and the body buried in Oak Hill cemetery. A father, Mr. L. L. Lawrence of this city, and a sister, Mrs. Chas. Higinbotham, of Gruver, are left to mourn his death.

Deceased was married a few years ago, but separated from his wife two years later. She and a son are now living in Des Moines.

An inquest was held Tuesday afternoon by Coroner Wilson. The jury was composed of Alex Johnston, E. E. Hartung, Dr. E. W. Bachman, Chas. Reed and H. C. Coon. They returned a verdict of suicide. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 9, 1908)

Note: A marriage license was issued by Clerk Amundson on Thursday to Glen Lawrence and Miss Lucile Goodman, both of Armstrong. Glen is a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Lawrence formerly of this city. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, May 13, 1903)