Iowa Old Press
Alton Democrat
October 24, 1891
SUICIDE AT LE MARS
Last Monday morning the people of LeMars were shocked to hear the sad news
that Ed Kline had committed suicide by hanging himself in a barn in the
south part of town.
The fact was first discovered by P. Dykstra. He got up that morning at five
o’clock and proceeded to the barn to do his morning chores. To his surprise
he found the door open, which he was positive he had closed the evening
previous. On entering he saw a man standing near one of his horses and
thinking it was a tramp, shouted, “Get out of there,” but no reply came and
no move was made by the one addressed. Dykstra then said, “If I can’t put
you out, I’ll get some one that can.” He went to get Mr. Heimstra, his
neighbor. Both gentlemen then entered the barn and noticed that the man who
was taken for a tramp was hung to the rafter above; they cut the rope; moved
the body to the next stall and recognized him as Ed Kline, cold, stiff and
breathless. They at once conveyed the news of their discovery to Coroner
McMahan, who took charge of the body and had him removed to Beely & Fissel’s
undertaking rooms, where an inquest was held. A coroner’s jury was
empaneled consisting of T. B. Gallagher, Jim McCartney and J. H. Buttet.
From the evidence given the coroner’s jury by his sister, whom he had been
living with, it was seen that he had been sick for a couple of weeks and
with a little love affair mixed up with it, had got tired of life and took
this means of making a final finish. Mr. Kline was a young man thirty-three
years old and was principally engaged in training horses and caring for
stock. He was a good natured young man and well liked by all who knew him.
After the inquest the body was turned over to Mr. Kline’s brother and
sister, who took charge of the funeral, which took place last Tuesday.
Alton Democrat
October 30, 1891
NEWS FROM LE MARS
Died, at the residence of Mrs. Koetz, in LeMars, October 25th, Mrs. E.
Hoefler, of Mt. Carmel, Iowa. Mrs. Hoefler was a sister to Rev. Father Meis
of this city.