Wood, George D. 1858-1903

WOOD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/31/2004 at 13:49:47

George D. Wood

The people of this city were shocked this morning when the news was flashed over the wires that George D. Wood of Colfax had committed suicide.

A representative of the NEWS at once left for Colfax where the following facts were developed.

Mr. Wood had not been well for several days. Thanksgiving he was in Brooklyn and spent the day with his uncle, Alex Wood, and the following day was the last that Mr. Wood had been down town to look after business. He had been about the house most of the time but had a severe cold.

This morning he called John Main and A. A. Penquite to his residence by phone, saying that he wanted to talk with them. Both responded to the call. It was nothing unusual for Mr. Wood to do this as he was in the habit of calling his business and social fiends in for a visit. After the gentlemen named had been with Mr. Wood a half hour or more they intimated that they would need to be going but Mr. Wood pressed them to stay longer. He was in bed at the time.

When they arose to go he said, “Wait just a minute,” and excused himself saying that he would be back in a moment and wanted to talk further with them. He slipped from his bed and went to the dresser for a moment, an act which was unnoticed for a time. He then stepped into an adjoining toilet room and an instant later the report of a pistol shot rang through the house. He was heard to fall and when the men rushed to him he was dead, the end having come instantaneously. He had fired a shot from the 38-caliber revolver into his right temple and the bullet crashed clear through, emerging on the opposite side.

Mr. Main and Mr. Penquite were shocked beyond compare. The alarm was soon given and the sad news spread rapidly. Of course the members of the family were almost crazed with grief.

It is positively asserted by the men who were with Mr. Wood that questions of business were not referred to in any manner in the conversation preceding the rash deed. The cause which led up to such a tragedy cannot be explained. While there have been merest hints of domestic infelicity the thought has never occurred to those who were nearest to Mr. and Mrs. Wood. It is asserted that their home life was very pleasant and that they were very much devoted to each other.

It will be remembered that Mr. Wood’s first wife died in Denver in August, two years ago, while they were visiting that city. When it became apparent that she could not recover it is said that Mrs. Wood said to her husband that she did not desire that he should live alone and counseled him to marry some woman who would be a mother to the two children, Clifford and Hazel, now aged 20 and 14 years, respectively. It is said that she remarked that if he would only marry some very kind lady, such as the nurse who had so tenderly cared for her, she would be pleased. In October one year later Mr. Wood did marry the lady who nursed the former Mrs. Wood. Their married life has been such as to preclude any talk of infelicity by those who are intimate with the family.

It seems to be the universal opinion that business troubles could have had nothing to do with the matter for the Woods are known to be solid financially. They have large banking interests and their business dealing are on a large scale, extending in all directions.

The only feasible conclusion that may be reached is that Mr. Wood was temporarily insane. It is said that this morning, in talking with Mr. Main and Mr. Penquite, he said that he had been so miserable for the past few days that he was afraid his spine was affected. He said that occasionally there were flashed over him, which seemed to obscure his mind. It must be that aberration of mind was responsible for the rash deed done.

Coroner S. M. Robinson was on the scene about eleven o’clock. The shooting occurred about nine o’clock. The following men were sworn in as a jury: J. R. Rodgers, J. B. Ross, E. E. Dotson. Nothing was done by the jury until after dinner when the facts as above related were brought out.

Geo. D. Wood was born in New York May 8, 1858. He had been in Colfax about twenty years and had been in the banking business all that time. First as assistant to his uncle, A. J. Wood, who owned the bank, and later became the head of the institution himself, being associated with an uncle Alex Wood of Brooklyn, who is at the head of another bank in his own city. They had several branches and had been reaching out for business in all directions. Mr. Wood was an up to date man, progressive and popular. He stood very high in the banking circles of the country. Several banks in Des Moines and Chicago had offered him positions at large salaries but he preferred to remain in Colfax.

Mr. Wood was a member of the M. E. Church, of the Masonic Orders, being as high as the 32nd degree and of course belonging to all the subordinate lodges. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the I. O. O. F. and several minor societies. He was a jolly, hearty fellow, one whom it was a pleasure to meet. His death is a great shock and cannot be accounted for. ~ The Newton News, Saturday, December 5, 1903, Page 4, Column 2
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Word was received here today that the funeral of Geo. D. Wood would be held Monday and the remains taken to Brooklyn for interment. The Knights Templar will go from this place on the fast mail to Colfax to act as escort. ~ The Newton News, Monday, December 7, 1903, Page 4, Column 3

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W. O. McElroy of this city has been appointed receiver for the Bank of Colfax. This is a positive guarantee to all interested parties that absolute fairness will be observed in straightening out the affairs of that institution. The conditions have of course not yet been determined.

H. G. Stouffer & Co., made an assignment Saturday as the result of the turn affairs have taken and Mayor J. H. Hahn has been named as assignee.

It is now claimed that Mr. Wood’s life insurance may not be over $16,000. It is stated that the slump in cattle is responsible for Mr. Wood’s straightened circumstances. ~ The Newton News, Friday, December 4, 1903, Page 1, Column 5