Evening Times-Republican, Marshalltown, IA, August 30, 1905, page 7
"MAD" LETTS ENDS LIFE BY MORPHINE
Sad End, by Self-Murder, of a Wasted Life of Former Marshalltown Man
PATHETIC NOTE TO HIS BOYS
Entreats Them Never to Touch Liquor —Also Leaves Note to Brother, Mr. F. C. Letts, Expressing His Affection for Him—Burial Will be in This City Thursday Morning.
A telegram to the Times-Republican from Chicago announces the death by morphine poisoning, self-administered, of Noah Madison Letts, formerly and brother of Mr. P. C. Letts, president of the Western Grocer Company. Mr. Letts took his own life while in a fit of despondency following a protracted drinking spell. The act was committed in a room at the Union Hotel, 111 Randolph street, Tuesday. He was discovered by a bell boy who was sent to the room because the clerk noticed that the occupant had not been seen since the day before. Mr. Letts was still alive when found, but died two hours after physicians were summoned.
Leaves Two Notes.
Two pathetic notes were left by the man, and were evidently written only a short time before the fatal dose was swallowed. One of them was to his two little sons, Ned and Delano, and the other to his brother, Mr. F. C. Letts. The note to the boys entreated them never to touch intoxicating liquors, and the one to his brother expressed his affection for him. The note to his sons is as follows:
"To My Boys. Please, for your sake, and for God's sake, never drink a drop. I love you better than my life, but I can not stop, and my action is for the best. "YOUR PAPA."'
To his brother he wrote:
"Frank: Thank you for your kindness. It's best so. Take care of my boys. I've suffered so. It's best. Good bye. YOUR BROTHER."
"P. S.—I love you as never before one brother loved another."
Was a Slave to Drink.
Mr. Letts was a slave to drink, despite the fact that he had made every effort to break the bonds that he realized were tightly gathering around him. Everything that was possible had been done for him by his brother, including every known cure for the liquor habit. All treatment was to no avail, and periodically Mr. Letts would forsake business, family, friends and associates, and engage in a protracted spree. The humiliation of his last debauch, and the fact that his mind has been gradually giving away under the effects of the alcoholic poisoning, were responsible for the act of self-destruction.
Mr. Letts' Career.
Mr. Letts has a very successful business career until within recent years, when his habits became such that he was unfitted for business. For many years he was connected with the Letts, Fletcher Company in this city, and later was with the Western Brokerage company as manager. At the time of his death he was treasurer and manager of the Letts Promoting company, of which Harry G. Selfridge, of Chicago, is president.
Mr. Letts was 38 years of age, and was most capable in a business way, being far-sighted and active, and at one time was one of the beat managers of the different grocery houses conducted by the Letts, Fletcher Company. He began his grocery career in this city as shipping clerk for the Letts, Fletcher Company. He was promoted and made a salesman, traveling out of this city. Again he was promoted, and in 1889 went to Carroll to assume the management of the Carroll branch of the Letts, Fletcher Company. He remained there until January 1, 1893, when he went to Decatur, Ill., and entered the wholesale grocery business for himself under the firm name of Reddell & Letts. After a stay of a few years in Decatur he went to New York, where he engaged in the sugar brokerage business and did well. A few years later, or in 1902, he went to Chicago to take charge of the business of the Western Brokerage company as manager, his brother, F. C. Letts, being president of the company. After a year there he became one of the organizers of the National Grocer company, a combination of interests in Michigan wholesale grocery establishments, similar to the Western Grocer company of this city.
Mr. Letts was married in this city fourteen years ago to Miss Emma Smith, daughter of the late Delano T. Smith. A few years ago the couple were divorced and Mrs. Letts, unable to bear up under the strain of her domestic troubles, lost her mind. She is now in the state hospital for the Insane at Cherokee.
Mr. Letts has three children, two sons and a daughter. The sons, Ned M., aged 12, and Delano, aged 10, are now In Yates Center, Kan., making their home with an aunt, a sister of their father. The daughter, a babe, is in Mason City with an uncle, Dr. Chan P. Smith.
A telegram this morning from Mr. F. C. Letts says that the body of his brother will be brought to this city for interment in the family lot in Riverside. The body will arrive at 8:08 over the Northwestern and burial will take place directly from the station. Mr. Letts will accompany the body.
Contributor: Swanlin (47730715) • [email protected]
"MAD" LETTS ENDS LIFE BY MORPHINE
Sad End, by Self-Murder, of a Wasted Life of Former Marshalltown Man
PATHETIC NOTE TO HIS BOYS
Entreats Them Never to Touch Liquor —Also Leaves Note to Brother, Mr. F. C. Letts, Expressing His Affection for Him—Burial Will be in This City Thursday Morning.
A telegram to the Times-Republican from Chicago announces the death by morphine poisoning, self-administered, of Noah Madison Letts, formerly and brother of Mr. P. C. Letts, president of the Western Grocer Company. Mr. Letts took his own life while in a fit of despondency following a protracted drinking spell. The act was committed in a room at the Union Hotel, 111 Randolph street, Tuesday. He was discovered by a bell boy who was sent to the room because the clerk noticed that the occupant had not been seen since the day before. Mr. Letts was still alive when found, but died two hours after physicians were summoned.
Leaves Two Notes.
Two pathetic notes were left by the man, and were evidently written only a short time before the fatal dose was swallowed. One of them was to his two little sons, Ned and Delano, and the other to his brother, Mr. F. C. Letts. The note to the boys entreated them never to touch intoxicating liquors, and the one to his brother expressed his affection for him. The note to his sons is as follows:
"To My Boys. Please, for your sake, and for God's sake, never drink a drop. I love you better than my life, but I can not stop, and my action is for the best. "YOUR PAPA."'
To his brother he wrote:
"Frank: Thank you for your kindness. It's best so. Take care of my boys. I've suffered so. It's best. Good bye. YOUR BROTHER."
"P. S.—I love you as never before one brother loved another."
Was a Slave to Drink.
Mr. Letts was a slave to drink, despite the fact that he had made every effort to break the bonds that he realized were tightly gathering around him. Everything that was possible had been done for him by his brother, including every known cure for the liquor habit. All treatment was to no avail, and periodically Mr. Letts would forsake business, family, friends and associates, and engage in a protracted spree. The humiliation of his last debauch, and the fact that his mind has been gradually giving away under the effects of the alcoholic poisoning, were responsible for the act of self-destruction.
Mr. Letts' Career.
Mr. Letts has a very successful business career until within recent years, when his habits became such that he was unfitted for business. For many years he was connected with the Letts, Fletcher Company in this city, and later was with the Western Brokerage company as manager. At the time of his death he was treasurer and manager of the Letts Promoting company, of which Harry G. Selfridge, of Chicago, is president.
Mr. Letts was 38 years of age, and was most capable in a business way, being far-sighted and active, and at one time was one of the beat managers of the different grocery houses conducted by the Letts, Fletcher Company. He began his grocery career in this city as shipping clerk for the Letts, Fletcher Company. He was promoted and made a salesman, traveling out of this city. Again he was promoted, and in 1889 went to Carroll to assume the management of the Carroll branch of the Letts, Fletcher Company. He remained there until January 1, 1893, when he went to Decatur, Ill., and entered the wholesale grocery business for himself under the firm name of Reddell & Letts. After a stay of a few years in Decatur he went to New York, where he engaged in the sugar brokerage business and did well. A few years later, or in 1902, he went to Chicago to take charge of the business of the Western Brokerage company as manager, his brother, F. C. Letts, being president of the company. After a year there he became one of the organizers of the National Grocer company, a combination of interests in Michigan wholesale grocery establishments, similar to the Western Grocer company of this city.
Mr. Letts was married in this city fourteen years ago to Miss Emma Smith, daughter of the late Delano T. Smith. A few years ago the couple were divorced and Mrs. Letts, unable to bear up under the strain of her domestic troubles, lost her mind. She is now in the state hospital for the Insane at Cherokee.
Mr. Letts has three children, two sons and a daughter. The sons, Ned M., aged 12, and Delano, aged 10, are now In Yates Center, Kan., making their home with an aunt, a sister of their father. The daughter, a babe, is in Mason City with an uncle, Dr. Chan P. Smith.
A telegram this morning from Mr. F. C. Letts says that the body of his brother will be brought to this city for interment in the family lot in Riverside. The body will arrive at 8:08 over the Northwestern and burial will take place directly from the station. Mr. Letts will accompany the body.
Contributor: Swanlin (47730715) • [email protected]
Evening Times-Republican, Marshalltown, IA, August 30, 1905, page 7
"MAD" LETTS ENDS LIFE BY MORPHINE
Sad End, by Self-Murder, of a Wasted Life of Former Marshalltown Man
PATHETIC NOTE TO HIS BOYS
Entreats Them Never to Touch Liquor —Also Leaves Note to Brother, Mr. F. C. Letts, Expressing His Affection for Him—Burial Will be in This City Thursday Morning.
A telegram to the Times-Republican from Chicago announces the death by morphine poisoning, self-administered, of Noah Madison Letts, formerly and brother of Mr. P. C. Letts, president of the Western Grocer Company. Mr. Letts took his own life while in a fit of despondency following a protracted drinking spell. The act was committed in a room at the Union Hotel, 111 Randolph street, Tuesday. He was discovered by a bell boy who was sent to the room because the clerk noticed that the occupant had not been seen since the day before. Mr. Letts was still alive when found, but died two hours after physicians were summoned.
Leaves Two Notes.
Two pathetic notes were left by the man, and were evidently written only a short time before the fatal dose was swallowed. One of them was to his two little sons, Ned and Delano, and the other to his brother, Mr. F. C. Letts. The note to the boys entreated them never to touch intoxicating liquors, and the one to his brother expressed his affection for him. The note to his sons is as follows:
"To My Boys. Please, for your sake, and for God's sake, never drink a drop. I love you better than my life, but I can not stop, and my action is for the best. "YOUR PAPA."'
To his brother he wrote:
"Frank: Thank you for your kindness. It's best so. Take care of my boys. I've suffered so. It's best. Good bye. YOUR BROTHER."
"P. S.—I love you as never before one brother loved another."
Was a Slave to Drink.
Mr. Letts was a slave to drink, despite the fact that he had made every effort to break the bonds that he realized were tightly gathering around him. Everything that was possible had been done for him by his brother, including every known cure for the liquor habit. All treatment was to no avail, and periodically Mr. Letts would forsake business, family, friends and associates, and engage in a protracted spree. The humiliation of his last debauch, and the fact that his mind has been gradually giving away under the effects of the alcoholic poisoning, were responsible for the act of self-destruction.
Mr. Letts' Career.
Mr. Letts has a very successful business career until within recent years, when his habits became such that he was unfitted for business. For many years he was connected with the Letts, Fletcher Company in this city, and later was with the Western Brokerage company as manager. At the time of his death he was treasurer and manager of the Letts Promoting company, of which Harry G. Selfridge, of Chicago, is president.
Mr. Letts was 38 years of age, and was most capable in a business way, being far-sighted and active, and at one time was one of the beat managers of the different grocery houses conducted by the Letts, Fletcher Company. He began his grocery career in this city as shipping clerk for the Letts, Fletcher Company. He was promoted and made a salesman, traveling out of this city. Again he was promoted, and in 1889 went to Carroll to assume the management of the Carroll branch of the Letts, Fletcher Company. He remained there until January 1, 1893, when he went to Decatur, Ill., and entered the wholesale grocery business for himself under the firm name of Reddell & Letts. After a stay of a few years in Decatur he went to New York, where he engaged in the sugar brokerage business and did well. A few years later, or in 1902, he went to Chicago to take charge of the business of the Western Brokerage company as manager, his brother, F. C. Letts, being president of the company. After a year there he became one of the organizers of the National Grocer company, a combination of interests in Michigan wholesale grocery establishments, similar to the Western Grocer company of this city.
Mr. Letts was married in this city fourteen years ago to Miss Emma Smith, daughter of the late Delano T. Smith. A few years ago the couple were divorced and Mrs. Letts, unable to bear up under the strain of her domestic troubles, lost her mind. She is now in the state hospital for the Insane at Cherokee.
Mr. Letts has three children, two sons and a daughter. The sons, Ned M., aged 12, and Delano, aged 10, are now In Yates Center, Kan., making their home with an aunt, a sister of their father. The daughter, a babe, is in Mason City with an uncle, Dr. Chan P. Smith.
A telegram this morning from Mr. F. C. Letts says that the body of his brother will be brought to this city for interment in the family lot in Riverside. The body will arrive at 8:08 over the Northwestern and burial will take place directly from the station. Mr. Letts will accompany the body.
Contributor: Swanlin (47730715) • [email protected]
"MAD" LETTS ENDS LIFE BY MORPHINE
Sad End, by Self-Murder, of a Wasted Life of Former Marshalltown Man
PATHETIC NOTE TO HIS BOYS
Entreats Them Never to Touch Liquor —Also Leaves Note to Brother, Mr. F. C. Letts, Expressing His Affection for Him—Burial Will be in This City Thursday Morning.
A telegram to the Times-Republican from Chicago announces the death by morphine poisoning, self-administered, of Noah Madison Letts, formerly and brother of Mr. P. C. Letts, president of the Western Grocer Company. Mr. Letts took his own life while in a fit of despondency following a protracted drinking spell. The act was committed in a room at the Union Hotel, 111 Randolph street, Tuesday. He was discovered by a bell boy who was sent to the room because the clerk noticed that the occupant had not been seen since the day before. Mr. Letts was still alive when found, but died two hours after physicians were summoned.
Leaves Two Notes.
Two pathetic notes were left by the man, and were evidently written only a short time before the fatal dose was swallowed. One of them was to his two little sons, Ned and Delano, and the other to his brother, Mr. F. C. Letts. The note to the boys entreated them never to touch intoxicating liquors, and the one to his brother expressed his affection for him. The note to his sons is as follows:
"To My Boys. Please, for your sake, and for God's sake, never drink a drop. I love you better than my life, but I can not stop, and my action is for the best. "YOUR PAPA."'
To his brother he wrote:
"Frank: Thank you for your kindness. It's best so. Take care of my boys. I've suffered so. It's best. Good bye. YOUR BROTHER."
"P. S.—I love you as never before one brother loved another."
Was a Slave to Drink.
Mr. Letts was a slave to drink, despite the fact that he had made every effort to break the bonds that he realized were tightly gathering around him. Everything that was possible had been done for him by his brother, including every known cure for the liquor habit. All treatment was to no avail, and periodically Mr. Letts would forsake business, family, friends and associates, and engage in a protracted spree. The humiliation of his last debauch, and the fact that his mind has been gradually giving away under the effects of the alcoholic poisoning, were responsible for the act of self-destruction.
Mr. Letts' Career.
Mr. Letts has a very successful business career until within recent years, when his habits became such that he was unfitted for business. For many years he was connected with the Letts, Fletcher Company in this city, and later was with the Western Brokerage company as manager. At the time of his death he was treasurer and manager of the Letts Promoting company, of which Harry G. Selfridge, of Chicago, is president.
Mr. Letts was 38 years of age, and was most capable in a business way, being far-sighted and active, and at one time was one of the beat managers of the different grocery houses conducted by the Letts, Fletcher Company. He began his grocery career in this city as shipping clerk for the Letts, Fletcher Company. He was promoted and made a salesman, traveling out of this city. Again he was promoted, and in 1889 went to Carroll to assume the management of the Carroll branch of the Letts, Fletcher Company. He remained there until January 1, 1893, when he went to Decatur, Ill., and entered the wholesale grocery business for himself under the firm name of Reddell & Letts. After a stay of a few years in Decatur he went to New York, where he engaged in the sugar brokerage business and did well. A few years later, or in 1902, he went to Chicago to take charge of the business of the Western Brokerage company as manager, his brother, F. C. Letts, being president of the company. After a year there he became one of the organizers of the National Grocer company, a combination of interests in Michigan wholesale grocery establishments, similar to the Western Grocer company of this city.
Mr. Letts was married in this city fourteen years ago to Miss Emma Smith, daughter of the late Delano T. Smith. A few years ago the couple were divorced and Mrs. Letts, unable to bear up under the strain of her domestic troubles, lost her mind. She is now in the state hospital for the Insane at Cherokee.
Mr. Letts has three children, two sons and a daughter. The sons, Ned M., aged 12, and Delano, aged 10, are now In Yates Center, Kan., making their home with an aunt, a sister of their father. The daughter, a babe, is in Mason City with an uncle, Dr. Chan P. Smith.
A telegram this morning from Mr. F. C. Letts says that the body of his brother will be brought to this city for interment in the family lot in Riverside. The body will arrive at 8:08 over the Northwestern and burial will take place directly from the station. Mr. Letts will accompany the body.
Contributor: Swanlin (47730715) • [email protected]
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