Iowa
Old Press
Marshall Statesman
Marshalltown, Marshall co. IA
Saturday July 5, 1884
William Cole, at one time a prominent builder and contractor and
a member of the city council in '76 and 7, commited suicide
Thursday night at his home on South Third street, by hanging. His
wife, who went to his room Friday morning about 7 o'clock, found
hanging by the neck to the bed post his hands tied together. He
had severed into stirps towels, making a rope with which he
carried into execution his determination to end his life. The
body was already cold and had evidently been dead several hours.
Mr. Cole has long been a sufferer from one of the most venemous
and vile diseases known to the human family. Contracted in
Chicago about 8 years ago. He had been at Hot Springs and at
various other places, besides spent all his worldly effects in
seeking relief to no purpose. Life was a burden worse than death
and the end was no doubt a blissful relief from the agonies and
humiliations of life. Mr. Cole was 49 years of age and leaves an
interesting and respected family to mourn the cause and end of
their father and husband. The funeral was conducted from the late
family residence Saturday evening.
[transcribed by J.C., February 2005; submitter has no further
information]