Homer C. Compton (1903)

COMPTON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/16/2009 at 15:42:39

Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 23, 1903
Page 5

Earlham

Word was received here Saturday that Homer Compton, of Minnesota, shot himself. He was a former Earlham boy. His mother and several brothers reside here. They have the sympathy of the entire community.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 30, 1903
Page 1

Murdered

Earlham Echo:--A telegram was received here last Friday afternoon from the coroner of Crookston, Minn., stating that Homer Compton had committed suicide near there the day before, and asking instructions as to the disposition of the body. Instructions were sent directing that the body be sent here, but it did not arrive until Wednesday morning of this week. The funeral was held from the home of his mother that afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. W. Stribling, and the remains were laid away in the Earlham cemetery.

Deceased was a son of Uriah and Samantha Compton, and was born in this county on January 10, 1883, and spent a greater part of his life here. He was a very quiet and industrious young man, and his death was a severe shock to his widowed mother.

Up to the time of our going to press no particulars of his death have been received, but an examination of the body upon his arrival here dissipated the suicide theory, and it is generally believed he was murdered. There were two bullet wounds, either of which Dr. Day stated would have proven fatal almost instantly. One bullet entered the brain in the center of the forehead and the other entered the left side just above the nipple. This bullet passed clear through the body and was found in his clothing. The authorities there, having placed the body in the casket just as it was found. He had on his working clothes.

He had been there only a short time and was working in a lumber camp. It was known here that he had quite a sum of money but it was not returned with his effects, and it is generally believed here that he was killed and robbed.
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Coordinator's note: Middle initial taken from gravestone.

Gravesite
 

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