Charles F. Woods (1903)

WOODS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 2/17/2009 at 14:46:21

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 31, 1903
Page 1, cColumn 1

C. F. WOODS SUICIDES

The St. Charles Banker Is Dead By His Own Hands

The Deed was Committed in the Bank, Wednesday Evening, December 30 - So Far the Motive is Unknown

Word came from Winterset by telephone yesterday evening that C. F. Woods, of St. Charles, the well known banker and merchant had committed suicide by shooting. Inquiry this morning from those in position to know all that could be known, brings the information that the deed was done about 6 o'clock in the evening.

Nothing unusual had been noticed in his conduct or in the affairs of the bank. Miss Cora Irwin, who was employed in the bank, a few minutes before 6 o'clock went to the postoffice next door, to look for the mail. Returning, just as she got near the bank, she heard a revolver shot. Wood was not at his desk, but she saw a smoke in the back room. She went to the store in which Wood is a partner and notified the people that something was wrong. Two men went and found him sitting in a chair. A revolver had been placed to his head near the right ear, and fired, the ball coming out at the -- --. He was already unconscious, unresponsive. He lived about four hours, never regaining consciousness, death occurring about 10 o'clock.

It is --- that as of this morning no motive can be learned. It was was easily surmised that speculation with bank funds had brought disaster. The president of the bank, Mr. R. D. Minard, said this morning that there was no indication of any such situation, and every thing appeared to be all right.