CHANCEY B. COX COMMITS SUICIDE

COX, BRYANT, MURPHY, KEMP, DELZELL, PONTZIUS, CHITTUM, BROMLEAF

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/22/2010 at 17:44:36

Source: LCHS scrapbook, newspaper clipping with handwritten date of July 19, 1914

Takes His Own Life By Hanging On Last Sunday.

A FORMER RESIDENT HERE

Had Been in Poor Health For Some Time and Was Despondent - Secured Rope and Started Out Saying He Was Going Swimming - Body Found Suspended From Rafter In New Building Across the River.

A tragic death which greatly shocked the residents of this community last Sunday afternoon, was that of Chauncey B. Cox, a former resident of this place, who committed suicide that afternoon by hanging himself with a rope from the frame-work of the new house now being constructed just across the river for T.C. Murphy.

Cox had been in poor health for some time and was apparently in a hopeless despondent and nervous condition. Written on the back of an envelope found in the clothing of the suicide were these words, "I am insane. Have been for weeks."

It is believed that Cox had determined upon self-destruction and returned to Wapello for a final visit with his two sons who have lived here at the Bryant home. Neither of them were in Wapello Sunday, the oldest, Lewis, having gone to Cedar Rapids for the day, and the younger, Clayton, being employed in the Rock Island freight depot at West Liberty.

Cox, after his arrival here went to the home of Mrs. Mary Bryant, mother of his former wife, from whom he had been divorced for fifteen years. His children have made their home with their grandmother most of the time since their parents' separation. At the Bryant home Cox declared that he had bought the furniture for a restaurant and was going to send to Montana to his daughter, Mae, who is living with her mother, now a Mrs. Kemp, to come and help him conduct the restaurant. After staying a short time at the Bryant home, Cox left and spendt the rest of the morning visiting with old friends in the neighborhood. Among these it was noted that he seemed very nervous and in very poor health. He returned to the Bryant home at noon and asked to be allowed to lay down. Shortly afterwards he arose saying he could not sleep, and went away.

He later secured a rope declaring he was going swimming and as he could not swim very well wanted the rope as a protection. He then started across the bridge across the Iowa river. His actions while crossing the bridge were noticed by several people whom he met and appeared peculiar but attracted only passing notice. Going to the new cottage which is being built directly across the river he attached the rope to the frame work of the building and hung himself.

Mrs. Alice Delzell and Miss Pearl Pontzius, two young women, returning from a picnic saw the body swinging from the rafters of the new structure. They hastily spread the alarm and soon Dr. J.H. Chittum arrived and cut the rope, took the body down and made an examination, but life was extinct, and since rigor mortis had set in, it is thought he had been dead nearly an hour. One hand grasped the rung of the ladder which he ascended before hanging himself and it is possible that at the last moment when too late he had regretted his decision and tried to save himself.

Besides the three children, Lewis, Clayton and Mae he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mary Bromleaf, of Mallard, Iowa. Deceased was born in Wapello in 1865, but had been absent for a number of years, returning occasionally for a visit. The funeral services were held at the home of Mrs. Mary Bryant at 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. A. C. Babcock. Interment in Wapello cemetery.