Benjamin F. Pasley 1845-1896

PASLEY, GRAVES

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/31/2013 at 23:34:33

Suicide in Ellsworth Township
On Monday, Mr. B.F. Pasley, who lived on section 11, was found dead in his bed, by some neighbors that called at the house where he lived. Dr. Myrick the coroner was summoned and in company with the county attorney C.W. Crim and G.W. Adams, went to the place. The coroner summoned a jury and after a thorough investigation, it was decided that his death was caused by his own act, by placing dynamite under his head while lying down on the bed and exploding it. Domestic trouble and financial embarrassment is assigned to the cause that led up to the awful act. His remains were brought to town and interred in the cemetery west of the river [Oak Hill] Tuesday. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, August 26, 1896)

Obituary
Benjamin F. Pasley was born in DeKalb Co., Ill., in 1845 and died in Ellsworth Twp., Emmet Co, Ia, Aug 23, 1896, aged 51 years. He enlisted in May 1864 in the 132 Ill. Infantry Company K and served 150 days. He was married in December 25th, 1867, to Miss Emma Sarah Graves, of Rockell Co., Ill. They were blessed with six children, 5 boys and one girl. Four boys only survive to mourn his loss. His wife being dead 17 years. He was interred in the west cemetery here by the G.A.R. Rev. A.A. Wilcox, Chaplen. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, August 26, 1896)

Horrible Suicide
B.F. Pasley Ends His Life With Dynamite
Supervisor Fitzgerald brought the news to town Monday of the death by suicide of B.F. Pasley, on Sec. 11, Ellsworth township. The sheriff, county attorney and coroner repaired at once to the Pasley farm where a shocking sight met their gaze. Mr. Pasley lived alone in a small one-story house, a mile or more to a neighbor. Some time, perhaps the Friday before, he had prepared for death. Removing all his outer clothing he lay down on the bed, placed a stick of dynamite under his pillow, attached it to an electric battery and the started the current which ended his life. The windows of the house were all broken, a hole torn in the roof and the room spattered with clotted blood, brains and feathers. The man’s head was blown to fragments. As the deed was probably done three or four days before discovered the condition of the body can better be imagined than described. The coroner’s inquest resulted in a verdict of suicide and the remains were buried at the county’s expense Tuesday. The deceased came to this county from Storey county in 1891 and contracted for 450 acres of land, which he occupied up to the time of his death. He was a widower and leaves a family of four grown sons, three of whom reside in this county, the other in Nevada, Iowa. Mr. Pasley was of a morose, melancholy disposition and had met with many disappointments the past few years. For a month or more it had been noticed he was losing his mind and his tragic death was therefore not unexpected. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, August 27, 1896)

It Was Suicide
B.F. Paisley Ended His Own Life by the Use of Blasting Dynamite
The death of B.F. Paisley, spoken of in Tuesday’s issue was clearly a case of suicide, as conditions convinced the coroner and his jury. News of the terrible affair was brought to town Monday afternoon by Supervisor Fitzgerald, who first discovered the body. The coroner and other county officials, accompanied by several citizens, immediately hastened to the scene. When they arrived at the house where the terrible affair occurred a horrible sight was presented to their eyes. The body, completely decapitated and swollen and decomposed from lying long exposed, was stretched out upon a rough board cot in the small shanty in which the deceased had lived. Holes had been blown in the side and roof of the house, and debris and feathers and bits of flesh were scattered about. By the side of the cot, with one of the deceased hands resting upon it stood a small galvanic battery.

The deceased had carefully and cooly made preparations for his own death. He had placed everything in position and had then undressed and lain himself upon the cot with the fatal dynamite cartridge under his cheek. With one hand he had reached over and turned the switch to the battery, and the deed was done.

This all occurred probably Friday evening. At that time a family living half a mile south of the Paisley house heard an explosion. They thought nothing particular of it and the matter was forgotten. The deed was unknown until Monday afternoon when Mr. Fitzgerald went over to see Mr. Paisley upon a business matter and discovered the horrible situation. (Semi-Weekly Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, August 28, 1896)

Note: actually interred in Zearing Cemetery, Zearing, Story Co., IA