David Clark Arnold (1919)

ARNOLD, KING

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 8/29/2009 at 09:41:07

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, April 9, 1919

CLARK ARNOLD Commits Suicide

The news of the suicide of D. C. Arnold, generally known as Clark Arnold, greatly shocked the community in which he lived, as well as the county. As soon as the word was received here, Sheriff Wright visited the scene of the tragedy to investigate the sad affair.

The facts show that Mr. Arnold, who was a well known farmer of Ohio township, living in the Broadhorn neighborhood on the line between Madison and Warren counties, shot and instantly killed himself with a shotgun on Saturday.

Since an illness last fall, Mr. Arnold had been suffering from a mental decline and collapse of nerves and had not been allowed to be alone for any length of time.

On Saturday morning, Walter McPherson, a neighbor and Mr. King, father of Mrs. Arnold, had met at the Arnold farm to plow the garden and do some other work for the family, James Cox and son, Ernie were also working there. Mr. Arnold and his nine year old son, Harold went out to the place where Mrs. Arnold was at work directing the men who were building fence. He discussed with her the quantity of potatoes left buried in a pit, and after getting her guess as to the number of bushels left there, he returned to the house unobserved.

Evidently he took the shotgun, a hammerless one, loaded it and it is supposed he stood the gun upright on the floor and holding it with the left hand, placed his forehead close to the muzzle, stooping over enough to pull the trigger with his right hand. The shot blew off the top of his head and the body fell close against the outer door, where little Harold found it when he returned in a short time.

After the inquest, the body was taken to the undertaking parlors in St. Charles. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in the Methodist church and burial took place in the St. Charles cemetery.

Sheriff Wright reports the case a very sad one. The entire community will sorrow with the family in their grief.
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Coordinator's note: First name taken from WWI Draft Registration.

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