Lewis Ward "Ward" Smith (1901-1934)

SMITH

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

From Nevada Evening Journal February 20, 1934 (page 1)

WARD SMITH WAS FOUND A SUICIDE

DEAD BODY IN AUTOMOBILE PARKED ON HIGHWAY NEAR McCALLSBURG

L. Ward Smith, local manager of the Nevada Coal & Ice Company was found dead in his motor car on the highway two miles south and a half mile west of McCallsburg, about 9:30 this morning, by Frank Meiman, nearby farmer.

The indications are that Smith, who had left his home shortly after noon Monday, had driven to the place, stopped the car and leaving the engine running had made every preparation for death by asphyxiation.

He had placed a jacket over the end of the exhaust pipe, causing the fumes of gas from the engine to enter the tightly closed body of the car and lay down in the bottom where the fumes were heaviest.

The engine had been left running and evidently continued to run and furnish the deadly carbon monoxide fumes until the supply of gasoline was exhausted.

What tie the man drove to the place of the suicide is not known, but the car was first notices there this morning by Mr. Meiman about 9:30.

Sheriff Hattery was called and went at once to McCallsburg and took charge of the body, which was later removed to the Morfoot Undertaking parlors in Nevada. This was done after the coroner, Dr. D. G. Mills of McCallsburg had been called and looked over the situation.

Smith who had been in charge of the local office of the Nevada Coal & Ice Company for several years, had left his home shortly after noon yesterday. He took his rifle with him, saying that he was going out to shoot sparrows.

Auditors from the Des Moines office of the company were here at the time looking over the books and it is presumed that business troubles were the cause and furnish the motive for the suicide of the young man.

Smith was a married man, leaving his wife and four small sons.

He had been a popular employee of the coal and ice company, was well thought of among the business men and others in Nevada with whom he came in business contact and his act in suiciding causes a distinct shock in the community.