Edward David Harrison

HARRISON

Posted By: Steve Harrison (email)
Date: 6/6/2008 at 18:46:25

“ The Creston Commonwealth” (Creston, Union County, Iowa). June 28, 1889 (Friday), last page.
"SUICIDE. E.D. Harrison, a farmer, aged 45 years, residing about one mile and a half miles south of Cromwell, committed suicide at half past five o'clock Tuesday morning [June 25] by attaching a forked stick to the trigger of a musket and blowing his brains out in the kitchen of his home. The report did not alarm the household from the fact that they attributed the noise to preparations for building the kitchen fire. He left a note exonerating his family from all blame in regard to his sudden exit. The evidence being clear that self-destruction was premeditated no coroner's inquest was held. The funeral took place yesterday [June 27]."

“Creston Daily Advertiser” (Creston, Union County, Iowa). June 25, 1889 (Thursday)

"A SAD SENSATION. A Prominent Farmer Living Near Cromwell Takes His Own Life This Morning."

The kitchen of this commodious home of E[dward] D[avid] Harrison, one mile south of Cromwell, was the scene of a melancholy tragedy at an early hour this morning, the particulars of which, so far as the reporter is enabled to glean, are as follows: The Harrison family was composed of the father, E.D. Harrison, aged about forty-five years, his wife and six children, five sons and a daughter, ranging in ages from perhaps six to twenty odd years. At about 5:30 this morning the father arose and came down stairs and soon after the family heard a sound, which was probably the fatal discharge, but which was thought at the time to be a noise made by Mr. Harrison with the stove in starting the fire, and the truth was not suspected until the youngest son came down stairs, to find his father, E.D. Harrison, prone upon the floor, with the musket lying across his breast, a gun shot wound in his forehead, his head pillowed in a pool of blood, and the furniture and walls spattered with blood and brains. The lad at once alarmed the family and soon the report was brought to Cromwell, and from thence a telephone message to Creston, summoned H.K. Burket to hold an inquest on the body.

The deceased left a note, which gave evidence of having been carried in the pocket a day or two. The note was dated June 24, and its contents stated that no one but himself was responsible for the rash deed, and that it was not on account of any domestic troubles.

The suicide is generally attributed to the condition of the deceased's financial affairs, which, while not in bad shape, have been such as to cause him some anxiety of mind. Those who are most familiar with his business affairs say that during the past year he has been engaged in some undertakings which have not proved as remunerative as he had expected, and this is thought to have preyed upon his mind and made him despondent, and that continual brooding upon the matter has led him to the commission of the deed. It is believed that notwithstanding the ventures referred to he was still solvent, and that he could have met all his obligations and have had money left.

The deceased and his family were very highly esteemed by all who knew them and they occupied a prominent position in church and social circles of Cromwell and vicinity, and this sad occurrence has cast a gloom over the entire community and created a profound impression.

The manner in which the fatal shot was fired seems to be, that deceased planted the stock of the musket or smooth bore rifle, upon the floor, and with a forked stick cut for the purpose, sprung the trigger and discharged the fatal ball.

Coroner Burket reports that he arrived at the scene and viewed the remains, examined the note left by the dead man, and all agreed that the handwriting was that of the deceased, the case was plain and left no necessity for holding an inquest, hence that formality was waived."

“Creston Daily Advertiser” (Creston, Union County, Iowa). June 25, 1889 (Thursday).

"NEVINVILLE NEWS. Our town was thrown into excitement Tuesday morning, over the news that a man had suicided. A quiet, energetic farmer named [Edward David] Harrison, living about two miles south of town, committed suicide by blowing his brains out with a revolver [rifle]. He rose in the morning before the rest of the family, and wrote a note leaving it on the table, stating that his family was not to blame for his rash act. Financial embarrassment was the cause."

The Afton Enterprise (Afton, Union, Iowa).
June 27, 1889 (Thursday).

"A terrible tragedy occurred near Cromwell at an early hour Tuesday morning [June 25]. The family of E[dward] D[avid] Harrison hearing the report of a gun downstairs made haste to ascertain the meaning and found the husband and father lying prone upon the floor in a pool of blood. A musket lying near told the awful tale. A note was left by the deceased, dated the day previous, saying that no one but himself was responsible for the act and that no domestic trouble was the cause for the rash deed. It is supposed he placed the musket to his head and with a stick made for the purpose, sprung the trigger and discharged the the [sci] fatal ball. Mr. Harrison leaves a wife and six children and the whole community is shocked over the sad affair." END