FLETCHER, James 1882-1933

FLETCHER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/13/2015 at 07:09:52

Reinbeck Man Commits Suicide In Swimming Hole

James Fletcher Takes Life By Drowning Himself Early Sunday Morning

James Fletcher, who has made his home at Reinbeck all of his life, committed suicide early Sunday morning by drowning himself in the swimming hole in the Black Hawk a short distance north of Reinbeck. He was last seen about six o'clock Sunday morning, and it is believed that he took his life shortly thereafter.

The water in which Fletcher drowned himself was only 4 1/2 feet deep. Boys coming to the creek to go swimming about 8:30 in the forenoon saw a piece of a man's coat sticking out through the surface of the water. After going into make a further investigation they found that it was a man's body. The man's body was dragged to shore. It was evident that he had been dead for some time so that efforts to bring him too were useless.

Fletcher had left his hat on the bank of the creek. In the hat were 60 cents in money and a bottle of alcohol half empty. He had his pipe, tobacco and his watch in his pockets. The watch was still running. The body was taken to the Robinson funeral home where it was prepared for burial.

Financial trouble is believed to be the cause of the suicide. Fletcher had very little to live on during the past winter and he told County Supervisor Tom Mason a short time ago that he believed he would have to go to the county home as he could get no work and had no money. He had $1500 in the bank at Reinbeck for which he had signed waivers. He had made threats repeatedly about drowning himself but no one took him seriously.

Fletcher was 50 years old. He was twice married to the same wife and twice divorced. The wife and the two children, Beulah and the 18-year-old son live in Waterloo. Other relatives are a brother, Will, and a sister, Mrs. Engels, who live in California, and one sister, Mrs. Sadie Snow, who resides in Waterloo.

Funeral services were held at Reinbeck Tuesday afternoon, where burial was made.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 June 1933, pg 1