Bert McLaughlin Died 1923

MCLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/3/2018 at 14:19:06

Sioux City Journal
29 January 1923

Loses Savings; Takes His Life
Cripple Slashes Throat from Ear to Ear with Razor

Long brooding over loss of the savings of a lifetime, which he had deposited in the American Savings Bank and lost when the banking house failed about a year ago, caused Bert McLaughlin, 53 years old, a cripple, who resided at the Rutland Hotel, to end his existence early Sunday afternoon by cutting his throat from ear to ear with a razor.

McLaughlin was last seen alive by guests and friends at the hotel when he appeared for breakfast Sunday morning. He disappeared about 10 o’clock and was not seen again until maids, in making their rounds about 6 o’clock Sunday evening, opened the door to his room and found the body lying on the floor in the center of the blood spattered apartment.

Coroner Called

Coroner J.H. Robbins, an undertaker and the proprietor of the hotel were called and the dead man was removed to Nelson’s undertaking parlors. A search of his modest possessions gave up nothing that would reveal anything of his life and relatives.

Friends of McLaughlin stated that he was employed at the Armour packing plant and that he had resided at the Rutland Hotel, 1204 Fourth Street, for the past four or five years. Always a reticent man, they spoke kindly of him, saying that he was sober, quiet, industrious and very thrifty. They also said that they believed he came to Sioux City from South Dakota, where he had been employed on farms.

McLaughlin was a cripple, having an infirmity in the left leg that caused him to drag one foot heavily.

Lost $4,500.

The sum of money which he lost in the bank failure was estimated at $4,500. By McLaughlin’s acquaintances, who said that the dead man feared that he would be left dependent upon charity or the country in his old age.

Coroner Robbins, according to hotel attaches, stated that he believed the man had been dead since 1 or 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, death following almost immediately after he had slashed his throat.

Authorities are looking for McLaughlin’s relatives