George Rasmussen (ca. 1906-1930)

RASMUSSEN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal February 3, 1930 (page 1)

TRAGIC SUICIDE OF YOUNG GRANT TOWNSHIP FARMER

George Rasmussen, 22, young farmer of three miles west of Nevada, suicided by blowing the top of his head off with a charge fro a shotgun, some time Saturday and his body was found Sunday morning, cold and stiff in death, in a calf shed attached to the stock barn on the farm.

George left home Saturday about ten o'clock with his shotgun, as he often did and when he did not return home during the day, little was thought of it, as he was in the habit of staying away over night with friends.

Sunday forenoon the brother, Fred Rasmussen, rural mail carrier out of Nevada, was at the farm ind in assisting with the chores and upon entering this small calf shed, ran upon the body of the boy, sprawled out upon the floor, with the top of his head literally torn off with a charge from the shotgun which was found propped up in a corner of the room.

The muzzle of the gun was pointed through a hole in a scantling which was placed across the corner of the room as a brace.

Fastening the gun securely, the boy had removed his left shoe and stocking and, leaned over and placing the muzzle of the gun between his eyes, had used the large toe of his left foot to pull the trigger of the gun.

The explosion tor off the top of his head and the body was thrown back into the center of the small room.

He had closed and braced the entrance of the room from the inside and it was this that caused suspicion on the part of the brother and caused him to force his way into the building.

The boy, youngest of nine sons of Mrs. Chris Rasmussen, had been living alone on the farm with his mother during the past year and it was but a few weeks ago that another brother moved back home.

Shortly after the finding of the body the Sheriff's office was notified and Sheriff Hattery and Deputy Ward, with Coroner Mills of McCallsburg, visited the scene, viewed the body and looked over the situation, after which it was decided that it was a plain case of suicide and that there was no necessity of an inquest.

There is really no cause known for the rash act of the young man, who had been prospering in his farming operations in the care of the home place for the mother, but it was noticed that he had been morose and despondent for a few days.

The funeral services will be held at the Morfoot Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon at two o'clock, in charge of Rev. C. E. Lookingbill. Interment will be in the Nevada cemetery.