Frank Lockwood (1860-1918)

LOCKWOOD, ALLISON, POFF, MELLISH, BLACK, DAWSON

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/20/2009 at 18:25:34

Maquoketa Excelsior-Record
May 24, 1918

Frank Lockwood Kills Himself
Is Found in City Jail by Night Watch Archer. Had Been Dead Almost Seven Hours.

Maquoketa last Saturday experienced one of the great tragedies that seldom come to a city the size of this and one that we trust may not be repeated again soon. It is the life tragedy of Frank Lockwood, who has been marshal of this city during the past year, much of which will never be written, he paying the penalty of his rash act with his life.

Of all men in the city Frank Lockwood was about the last man one would ever think would take his own life, but there is no rule by which a person can be judged as to what is in his mind. Saturday evening a few minutes before seven o’clock, Wm. Archer, the night watch, was on his rounds and as usual he stopped at the city jail door to see if everything was in proper shape, when he found the door locked. This was out of the ordinary unless some one had been placed in there for some misdeed. He opened the door and investigated when to his surprise he found the lifeless body of Frank Lockwood, lying on a bunk in the west cell with a bullet wound in his temple.

Mr. Lockwood was seen to go toward the city hall a few minutes after twelve that day after everybody had left the place and when he knew nobody would be around to hear the report of the revolver. He was not seen after that hour until he was found by the night watch. The evidence shows that he had gone inside, locked the outside door, taken off his hat and coat and made deliberate preparations for taking his own life.

He had folded his hand across his breast and with the right hand had placed the muzzled of the revolver to his right temple and pulled the trigger. The bullet went through his head, coming out at the left temple and struck the plaster wall and dropped to the cot or bunk upon which he lay. Thus it will be seen that he had been dead for more than six hours when found.

On every tongue, almost, one hears the expression that because of his quiet character and seeming earnestness the news was an unexpected occurrence, and for this reason it came as a shock to the entire community, and the sympathy of the city and country round goes out to the wife who is left to bear the burden.

Frank Lockwood was born April 19, 1860, and was a little more than 58 years of age. He leaves a wife, a son, Myron of this city, a daughter, Mrs. Gould Allison of Marshalltown, three sisters, Mrs. Lou Poff of Omaha; Mrs. Ed. Mellish of Oxford Jct. and Mrs. Bert Black of Shellsburg; a brother, Will, of this city; and an aged mother, Mrs. Jos. Dawson of Maquoketa, who is afflicted with blindness and has been an invalid for a long time. The funeral will be held today, having awaited the arrival of relatives.