Craven, Delno C.

CRAVEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/26/2005 at 09:42:48

Scrapbook of Eliza (White) Jay (1844-1919)
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
Delno C. Craven Places a Revolver to His Head
and Sends a Bullet Through His Brian in the Presence of His Wife
Craven, Delno C.

On last Friday evening Ezra Craven received the startling news by telephone that his son, Delno, had killed himself at his home in Poweshiek County, one-half mile south of the McIntyre Mill.

The news rapidly spread and soon a number from this place were on the road over there and upon arrival found the report to be only too true. The found the lifeless form laying in a pool of blood just as he had fallen with a bullet hole entering the right temple and coming our near the left ear. The bullet passed clear through his head and lodged in the plastering on the wall. An inquest was held over the body after it had lain thirteen hours and over and about all that could be learned was as follows:

That he had left his father-in-laws house the night before having told his wife that she would never see him any more. She worried and went on about what he had told her and her father and his hired man took her over to the intended home on Friday evening about four p.m. She went in the house and found Delno on the bed and when she asked him for some keys he gave them to her and remarked that he was glad, she had come as he had put in an awful day, and asked her where the baby was? She replied that she had left it up at her fathers, and at that he drew a revolver and placed it to his head and fired. His wife fainted and when consciousness was restored she was taken back to her parents home.

Immediately after the inquest the remains were wrapped up and hauled to his father’s home, Ezra Craven, of this place. Delno and his wife and little baby had been living in Lynnville and did not move their household goods from here until about a week before the deed. He was well known to everybody here about and was known to be an honest hard working boy. We are told that he had previously been despondent but no one thought of him committing this awful act.

Delno Craven was 25 years of age. He leaves a young wife and infant baby, mother, father, seven sisters and one brother of his immediate relatives to mourn his departure. The funeral was held at his father’s house at 3:00 p.m. Saturday and the funeral discourse was preached by Rev. Joseph Arnold. A large number of sorrowing friends were present to pay their respects to his memory and give condolence to his grief stricken relatives. His remains were laid to rest in Friends Cemetery.

Originally submitted on Fri May 31 09:55:53 2002 by Christy Jay, Jaygenie@aol.com