Walter D. Bradshaw (1926)
BRADSHAW, WORTHING, HOWELL, RAYBORN
Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 6/10/2012 at 14:28:41
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 4, 1926
Page 1, Column 1TRURO STOCKMAN DIES BY SUICIDE
Walter Bradshaw Takes Life While Despondent. Dies Almost Instantly
Walter Bradshaw of Truro ended his own life early last Friday morning, firing four shots into his body with a revolver besides inflicting razor wounds on his throat. Death came almost instantly. Mr. Bradshaw was one of the upstanding exemplary citizens of Ohio township, a public spirited, broad-minded man, whoso life, both public and private, was above reproach.
No reasons for his suicide can be advanced other than that he may have worried over business affairs until it unbalanced his reason.
He was a son of J. W. Bradshaw, one of the early settlers of Ohio township who came to this county from Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1853. He was extensively engaged in farming and stock feeding, operating about 1200 acres of land in Ohio township.
His wife. one son Kenneth and one daughter, Mary are the remaining members of his family, the two children residing in California.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 18, 1926WALTER D. BRADSHAW
Walter D. Bradshaw, son of J. W. and Lorenda Bradshaw, was born Nov. 4, 1873, on the old farm two miles north of Truro, Iowa. On Oct 10, 1895, he was united in holy wedlock to Nettie Worthing, who with her two children, Kenneth E. of Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Mary Howell of Hollywood, Calif., are left to mourn. He had one brother, L. B., and one sister, Mrs. Grace Rayborn, who preceded him in death August 1925.
Walter was converted under the pastorate of Rev. Chas. K. Corkhill and united with the Methodist church of Truro where he remained a loyal member till death. He was always at his post of duty, having been a member of the official board.
Nearly all these years he has been a resident of Ohio township and Truro continuously, being interested in farming and stock buying in which capacity he had made the acquaintance of a host of business men in this part of the state probably not exceeded by any man in this line of business, all of whom held him in high regards. Mr. Bradshaw was a loyal citizen always working for the best interests of the community having served the town and schools in an official capacity for years.
The deceased passed to his reward Feb. 26, 1926 at the age of 52 years, 3 months and 22 days.
________________________The Osceola Sentinel
Osceola, Iowa
Thursday, March 4, 1926
Page 1, Column 4TRURO MAN KILLS HIMSELF WITH REVOLVER
W. D. Bradshaw, Widely Known Citizen of Madison County, Committed Suicide Friday Morning.
BORROWED GUN FOR PURPOSE
Secured Weapon From Truck Driver the Night Before—Found in Throes of Death in Residence.
(By Truro Correspondent.)
The good citizens of Truro and vicinity were shocked during the early hours of last Friday morning when the report gained circulation announcing that W. D. Bradshaw, widely known citizen of this community, had committed suicide.
The details of the sad event, as nearly as could be learned, are as follows: A little before 6 o’clock Friday morning Mr. Bradshaw arose as usual and within a few minutes thereafter the report of a revolver was heard coming from the direction of the kitchen. An investigation was made by Miss Throckmorton, a teacher who made her home at the Bradshaw residence and Claude Jones, a nephew of the deceased. They were horror stricken to find Mr. Bradshaw in the throes of death in a pantry next to the kitchen. They gave the alarm and soon Mr. Woods, the telephone operator, and other neighbors, were present to render such aid as possible, but nothing could be done to save the life of him who had committed the rash act and his spirit took its flight to the great beyond.
Later it was discovered that Bradshaw had slashed his throat with a razor severing the windpipe and then shot himself four times behind the ear with a small caliber revolver.
There is no explanation for the circumstances that prompted Mr. Bradshaw’s deed except that he was financially involved. But even this is rebutted by the fact that he was not being crowded by his creditors. It was reported that two letters were left by Mr. Bradshaw, one addressed (sentence missing) with their children.
“Walt,” as he was familiarly known, was rated as a prince of good fellows. He was an active member of the M. E. church and of the K. of P. Lodge. He seemed more jovial than usual Thursday evening. When he borrowed the revolver of a truck drive that evening he said that he was being bothered by a dog and that he wanted to kill him or scare him so badly that he would not return.
The deceased leaves to mourn his departure a loving companion and two married children Mrs. N. P. Howell and Mr. Kenneth Bradshaw, both of Los Angeles, California. A message announced that they were coming.Funeral services were held from the Truro M. E. church Tuesday morning at 10:30. As a mark of sympathy and respect the schools of Truro were closed all day Friday and all social function were postponed until after the funeral.
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