This community was shocked late Wednesday evening by the awful tidings of the death, apparently from suicidal intentions, of Isaac Botts, one of the old settlers and a highly respected citizen of this city and county. The news came like a pall over the city, for one of Mr. Bott's even most intimate friends ever had the slightest intimation that any thought of suicide was ever harbored by him. He had spent most of Wednesday on the streets attending to business matters, as was his custom. He had talked with a number of his friends and planned the usual details of business connected with his butcher shop and ice supply wagon. During the day he seemed as cheerful as usual, wrote some business letters and sent one to Ashland, evidently expecting a reply (which came) on the next morning's train.About 7 p.m. Mr. Botts returned to his home, a short distance west of the city, and ate his supper as usual. To his family he seemed as hopeful and as natural as ever. Not long after supper he left the house and nothing strange was thought until at a late hour when his failure to return aroused the suspicions of the family, and a search was at once instituted. No trace of him being found about town, a more complete search was made about the home premises. Finally, about midnight, the dead body was found in the hay mow of the barn. One end of a rope had been tied to a cross-beam in the barn loft. A noose had been made in the other end, and when found the body was still hanging by the rope, the noose being about the neck. The body was guarded until yesterday morning when Justice of the Peace, W. E. McCune, acting as coroner in the absence of a regular coroner, impaneled a jury to inquire into the cause of Mr. Botts' death. The finding of the jury is given below.
Isaac Botts came to Comanche-co., in 1884, and had ever since made this his home. He was an honorable and upright man, and his untimely demise will bring a deep sense of sorrow to many friends. The bereaved and heart-broken family have the sincere sympathy of all.
No writing or other evidences which might give a clue to the motives which led Mr. Botts to take his own life (if he did) have yet been discovered. Burial will take place today from the family residence, Rev. W. L. Roberts, of the Presbyterian church, having charge of the funeral services at 10 a.m.
The verdict of the coroner's jury in the case is as follows:
Coroners' Inquest.
An inquest holden at Coldwater, in Comanche county, on the 28th day of April, 1901, before W. E. McCune, a justice of the peace of Coldwater township, in said county, (acting coroner of said county) on the body of Isaac Botts, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed: The jurors, upon their oaths, do say; That Isaac Botts came to his death by voluntary strangulation.
In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hand the day and year aforesaid.
J. S. Halliday, M. D., W. H. Meers, C. W. Cole, B. S. VonSchiltz, Ed Price, Jurors.
W. E. McCunn, Justice of the Peace, Coldwater township, Comanche county, Kansas.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for transcribing and contributing the above obituary!
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