STOUT, Joshua 1843-1901

STOUT

Posted By: Janet M. Schuldt (email)
Date: 2/12/2021 at 11:54:16

"Malvern Leader",
Malvern, Iowa
Thursday, May 9, 1901 Page 2

IT WAS SUICIDE.

Joshua Stout, a Prominent Farmer of Rawles Township, Ends His Life in a Horrible Manner Last Sunday Morning.

Word was brought to town last Sunday forenoon that Joshua Stout had taken his own life. The terrible news was soon confirmed and an investigation brought out the fact that he had cut his throat with a razor and then jumped into the large watering tank in the feed yard. When the family arose at seven o'clock, they missed the head of the household which frightened them not a little. A pool of blood on the floor and a trail leading out of the house confirmed their fears that something had happened him. So, they sent for their neighbor, Zeno Bass, who came over at once and in a few minutes discovered the unfortunate man's lifeless body in the tank.

He had taken a razor and attempted to kill himself in the house, but failed so betook himself down through the feed lots to the water tank where he completed the horrible act. He had severed his wind-pipe and cut deep into his neck, but failed to cut the jugular vein. It was thought by some that he again used the razor at the tank as it was found in the water. A crowd soon gathered aid someone summoned Dr. Agan, of Silver City, thinking he was the coroner.

Later Coroner Whitnall was sent for and arriving about five o'clock empaneled the following jury: C. B. Christy, Walter Aistrope and John Suits. After listening to evidence from the family and Mr. Bass, who first discovered him, they returned a verdict of, "Death by suicide while under mental derangement." The family testified that he had been acting queer lately and that they had considered sending him to Clarinda for treatment, but had refrained thinking they could watch him. He had suffered for some time lately from ill health and for several weeks he had been laid up with a sore hand that caused him intense suffering. A number of other persons had noticed that he acted strange of late. He had told several different persons "good-by" saying he'd never see them again, so it would seem that he had been considering the deed for some time.

He leaves his family in good circumstances as he had long been a hard worker and, good manager. He was buried Monday at Tabor. The family has unbounded sympathy in their affliction. It was a terrible affair.