Matala Son c1897 - 1899

MATALA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/15/2020 at 09:33:00

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 9, 1899 P 5 C 2

An Invalid’s Terrible Deed.
Cedar Rapids, March 2.—Frank Matala, a man 40 years of age, who has been ill with consumption for two years, late this evening fired two bullets into the body of his year and a half old son, and then fired two bullets into his own heart. They were alone in the house at the time, and when found he was sitting dead in a chair with his clothing almost burned off, while the baby was dead on a bed a few feet away. Matala left a letter explaining that he had killed himself because of poor health, and his child because it was sickly.