Henry Fortman

FORTMAN

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 3/16/2006 at 17:47:05

Winterset Madisonian, Thursday, October 31, 1901, Pg 1
Winterset, Iowa

DEATH BY SUICIDE
Henry Fortman Becomes Despondent Owing to Ill Health, and Takes His Own Life

Henry Fortman, a young man who was visiting his brother-in-law, Mr. Short, on the old Williamson place near Tileville, committed suicide Saturday night between 11 and 12 o'clock by shooting himself with a shot gun. He had been in ill health for some time and it is supposed grew despondent and tired of a life of pain and suffering. About the hour mentioned he arose from his bed, dressed himself, took the shot gun and stepped out on the front porch where he placed the muzzle close to his breast and evidently pulled the trigger with his toe as he had removed one stocking. The charge tore a terrible hole in his body, and death was almost instantaneous. Other members of the family were awakened by the report of the gun and found him dying. Cornoner Martin was summoned, but deemed it unnecessary to hold and inquest and the remains were sent to Mt. Pulaska, Illinois, where the young man's relatives reside.