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Ammer and Barr Suicide

AMMER, BARR

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp
Date: 6/13/2016 at 19:56:19

Another Horrible Happening
Boy Aged 17, and Girl Aged 16, Commit Suicide.
Jasper county was last week the scene of another horrible tragedy, the victims this time being Miss Caroline Ammer and Verne Barr, two young people, of near Monroe, both members of prominent families. They were found dead sitting in a buggy at the Barr home four miles south of Monroe at seven o’clock on Thursday morning.
A bottle of Strychnine and a tin cup partly filled with water told the story of the double suicide of which nobody knows the cause. The bodies were discovered by the boy’s father, Alfred Barr.
The boy, aged 17, and the girl, aged 16, had been lovers for several years and there was no objection to their keeping company. The boy’s father said that he knew nothing of the boy’s desire to marry the Ammer girl – Albert Ammer, the girl’s father, said that some weeks ago young Barr had asked the hand of his daughter in marriage but had been refused as both were thought too young to marry. This is the only possible reason that can be given for the crime.
On Wednesday night the young couple had attended a dance at Monroe and afterward drove to the boy’s home arriving there at about four o’clock. The horses had been unhitched and put in the barn by the young man after which he climbed into the buggy and the two died side by side clasped in each other’s arms.
The following notes were left:
“We’ve decided to die together, as we could not live together. Bury us in the same grave – Caroline Ammer”. Was written on plain white paper, pinned to the coat of the girl.
“We’ve decided to dies together. Don’t worry. Good bye – Verne Barr,” was pinned to the boy’s lapel. Both signed their names in full.
The tragedy, happened in Marion county, the coroner at Knoxville was notified but the facts were so plain that it was not thought necessary to hold an inquest.
The girl’s mother was almost crushed upon hearing of the tragedy.
A double funeral services was held on Saturday at one o’clock at the Methodist church and interment made there side by side in the Monroe cemetery, as was the girl’s parting request.
This is indeed a sad happening and especially so to the parents of both the parties. It is a great shock to the community. An older sister of the girl married Earnest Barr, a brother of young Barr. (Photo of both in article)
Source: Newton Journal; 02 February 1910


 

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