Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1912 — ANOTHER SUICIDE IN RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER SUICIDE IN RENSSELAER

Harrison Wasootheßusman Dies By Taking Carbolic Acid i* - CAUSE OF RASH ACT UNKNOWN - -J Although It Is Hinted That a Little Domestic Quarrel Prompted the Act—Only Lived a Few Moments After Taking the Drug.

Rensselaer people experienced another shock Monday morning when it was reported on the street that Harrison Wasson, the well known busman, had committed suicide by taking nearly two ounces of carbolic acid. The news spread like ■wildfire, and the report was found to be only too true. Mr. Wasson had made the early train with his bus aa well as his man, Wm. Fry, and had told the latter at the barn, when they hitched up for the milk train, that he would look after some outside calls as soon as toe got his breakfast, and for Fry to attend to the hotel patrons! He then drove to his home on North Van Rensselaer street, and went directly to his bedroom upstairs, and in the presence of his wife swallowed nearly two ounces of carbolic acid. Mrs. Wasson was in the bedroom gathering up the clothes for the wash, and while some matters she is very reticent about, says that he came in, said “good-bye, Fannie,” and kissed her, then poured the contents of the Vial down his throat. She attempted to seize it and some of the, burning fluid was spilled on his chin and her hand. She screamed and called one of the girls to bring some milk which he promised her he would take with the last words he spoke. But he fell back cross-wise of the bed and was dead before a physician, who had been hastily sumomned, could reach the seene. City Marshal Mustard was passing the house on his way up town and hearing the great commotion, hurried in. He was the first person on the seene outside of members of the family, and Rev. Winn, who lives across the street, came a few moments later. Mr. Wasson never spoke a word, in fact was unconscious at the time the marshal arrived and only breathed a few times after he reached the scene. Marion Adams and others also came in shortly after tihe marshal and Rev. Winn. The wife and children were in the room when the marshal went in and the scene waa most affecting. Mr. Wasson had made the train

the night before With Mr. Fry and both were in tihe Nowels restaurant < after the night train and he seemted as jovial as usual. He told Nightwatcih Critser to call him for the morning trains as there "were too many calls for “Billy” to attend to alone, and he made these trains, and nothing unusual was noted in his action;?. The acid vial bore a label from t'he Long drug store, but when it was purchased is not known. It was at the barn over on Division street where some of it had been used on one of the horses. Mr. Fry says the bottle was probably twothirds full,, and thinks Mr. Wasson took the bottle from the barn when •he drove to his home for .his breakfast. There' is a rumlpr of a little domestic spat that morning, and Mr. Wasson, while of a jovial, happy disposition and well liked, is said to have had a very high temper, and it is generally believed While in a rage, drank the deadly acid. Mrs. Wasson will teay nothing about any differences, and it will pj*ob-

ably always remain a mystery as to just why he took his life.

Htis age was 4 4 years, a large, strong man in good health, and the rash act which ended his life so suddenly, occurred alt about 7 o’clock in the morning. The suicide of Mr. Wasson makes the fourth suicide that has occurred in Rensselaer in less than eight years. We have also had one murder here within that time. This is certainly quite a record for a ciity of less than 2,500 people. Of the suicides three have chosen carbolic acid, the most dreadful manner of "shuffling off,” it would seem, imaginable, and one used a revolver. It is generally conceded that a man who domimiits suicide must be mentally unbalanced, and two of the lour suicides here in the list given above were almost the last men one would think of who wou(d take this means of ending their lives unless they were temporarily unbalanced.

■Mr. Wasson, leaves a wife and ten children six girls ar.d four boys. The elder six, all girls, are selfsupporting, two toeing teachers in the district schools. His aged lather and mother, who reside in Union City, from Which place he caime several years ago, came yesterday.

Until same three years ago he. resided upon farms near Rensselaer, ae a renter. He then bought the Kresler bus business and moved to town and has since followed the bus business. He was doing well at this and there is no intimation that financial affairs had anything to do with the rash act. Also, his family life has apparently been pleasant and all seemingly got along very harmoniously. He carried $2,000 insurance in the M. W. A. order which is incontestable after three years—he became a member in December, 1908—and $2,000 in an old line company, which is also non-contest-ible, it is thought, thus leaving his family in comfortable circumstances. He had a host of friends and both he and his family were highly respected. ' '

The funeral .will! be held at the M. E. church today at 2 p. m.,1 conducted by Rev. C. L. Harper,! assisted by Rev. Winn. The Mod-! ern Woodmen will have charge of the burial. The K. of P’s. o-f which' order he was also a, member, will 1 attend in a body. Burial in West-?' on cemetery. The body will be in ! state at the house from 10 to 12 today.