Shaw, Harry E. d. 1932

SHAW, ORCUTT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/7/2015 at 22:55:39

Harry E. Shaw, of Monroe Took Own Life

Financial Worries Is Given As Cause For The Rash Act

Harry E. Shaw, of Monroe, a produce dealer in that city for many years, took his own life by hanging himself early Monday morning in the rear of his produce house.

Mr. Shaw was about 56 years of age and one of the prominent men of that community, being secretary and treasurer of the Monroe Commercial Club at the time. Reverses in business and financial worries are thought to be the cause of his act.

He is survived by his widow, three children, William, a graduate of Cornell college at Mount Vernon, and now teaching in the east, Robert, who is studying medicine at the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, and a daughter, Eleanor, a senior at Cornell College; a brother, Mark Shaw of Kellogg; a sister, Mrs. George Orcutt of Monroe and a brother, Earl, teaching in the Virgin Islands. Mr. Shaw also is a graduate of Cornell College.

The body was found at 7:45 o’clock Monday morning by G. E. Van Houweling of Monroe, who keeps his automobile in the rear of the Shaw Produce Shop, Mr. Van Houweling finding the body hanging at the end of the rope when he came to get his car. The body was taken to the Crumpacker Funeral Parlors.

When found, Mr. Shaw was wearing a suit, overcoat and cap, holding a handkerchief in his right hand, evidently having gone direct from his home in Monroe, where he lives alone, to his produce station and taking his own life shortly before Mr. Van Houweling arrived, as the body was still arm when it was found.

To perform the deed, Mr. Shaw had moved three cars in the rear of the station out of the way, had climbed up a ladder, tied the rope to the cross piece and then dropped, breaking his neck in the fall. His feet were touching the floor when he was found.

Two letters were found in the pocket of his overcoat, one being addressed to his brother, Mark, and the other to his widow. The letter to his brother contained business information, while the contents of that to his widow were not divulged.

Mr. Shaw was born and raised in Monroe, his father being one of the pioneer physicians of the vicinity. He was a member of the Methodist Church of Monroe and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday School. ~ The Colfax Tribune, Colfax, Iowa Thurs 4 Feb 1932.