Worried Youth Shoots Himself

MILLER, ROSE, STEVENSON, VOIZ

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 1/18/2015 at 17:31:57

Worried Youth Shoots Himself
Feared Prison After Injuring Companion in Auto Crash
William Rose, 20-year-old Vandalia youth, is in a serious condition at Broadlawns General hospital, Monday, suffering from a gun shot would in his right side. The injury occurred early in the morning on the farm of H. W. Stevenson, near Mitchellville, where he was employed.
When interviewed at the hospital by Deputy Sheriff Louis Voiz, young Rose stated that he shot himself because of worry over an auto accident he had two weeks ago at Vandalia, Voiz stated. Harold Miller, an occupant of the auto, suffered a fractured arm in the wreck.
The youth stated that several persons had been chiding him lately as a result of the accident and told him he would be sent to the penitentiary, according to Voiz.
The shot was fired from a small gauge shotgun and entered his side below the right arm. Physicians stated he had a good chance to recover unless serious infection set in.
Resident s of the Stevenson farm discovered the wounded youth by a haystack back of the barn. He was given aid by a Mitchellville physician and taken to the hospital here in a private ambulance.
His father was notified and came immediately to the hospital. … was reported.
While no definite reason had been given yet today as to what was the real cause of the injury, circumstantial evidence seemed to point to the fact that the shot was inflicted intentionally with the desire to commit suicide, it was declared by investigators.
It was further reported that Mr. Rose had been grieving for several days over the fact that a boy friend of his had received a broken arm in an automobile accident several days ago, and that he shot himself through sheer despondency over the injury of his friend. – Newton Daily News.
Source: Prairie City News; November 4, 1929