Adams County Free Press
May 21, 1931
Page 21
Earl Bennett, 51, a farmer living 9 miles south and one mile west of Fontanelle took his own life shortly after 5 o'clock Wednesday morning by shooting himself in the forehead with a 410 gauge shot gun. Worry over his financial condition is thought to have been the cause of the rash act.
Bennett arose at 5 o'clock, went into the kitchen and closed the door between the two rooms. A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a gun shot and called to her husband, asking him what he was doing. He replied that the gun had been discharged accidentally. As he had been accustomed to shooting rats before breakfast his wife gave no furhter thought to the incident. The shot made a hole in the kitchen floor.
A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a second shot on the back porch. Going to the porch she found the dead body of her husband slumped down on the porch floor, an ugly hole in his forehead. His right foot was bare and indications were that while leaning against the side of the house he had placed the muzzle of the gun against his forehead and pulled the trigger with his toe. Apparently all the shot remained inside his head.
Bennett was injured in an automobile collision in Creston in January and several times since then had talked of suicide, indicating he was considering it seriously.
County Coroner Edna Sexsmith was called, but thought an inquest unnecessary, as it was plainly a case of suicide.
Bennet is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Claude Antisdel, and a son, Roy, 21, at home.
Funeral services will be held at Otis Chapel Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be held in the Union cemetery. - Fontanelle Observer
May 21, 1931
Page 21
Earl Bennett, 51, a farmer living 9 miles south and one mile west of Fontanelle took his own life shortly after 5 o'clock Wednesday morning by shooting himself in the forehead with a 410 gauge shot gun. Worry over his financial condition is thought to have been the cause of the rash act.
Bennett arose at 5 o'clock, went into the kitchen and closed the door between the two rooms. A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a gun shot and called to her husband, asking him what he was doing. He replied that the gun had been discharged accidentally. As he had been accustomed to shooting rats before breakfast his wife gave no furhter thought to the incident. The shot made a hole in the kitchen floor.
A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a second shot on the back porch. Going to the porch she found the dead body of her husband slumped down on the porch floor, an ugly hole in his forehead. His right foot was bare and indications were that while leaning against the side of the house he had placed the muzzle of the gun against his forehead and pulled the trigger with his toe. Apparently all the shot remained inside his head.
Bennett was injured in an automobile collision in Creston in January and several times since then had talked of suicide, indicating he was considering it seriously.
County Coroner Edna Sexsmith was called, but thought an inquest unnecessary, as it was plainly a case of suicide.
Bennet is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Claude Antisdel, and a son, Roy, 21, at home.
Funeral services will be held at Otis Chapel Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be held in the Union cemetery. - Fontanelle Observer
Adams County Free Press
May 21, 1931
Page 21
Earl Bennett, 51, a farmer living 9 miles south and one mile west of Fontanelle took his own life shortly after 5 o'clock Wednesday morning by shooting himself in the forehead with a 410 gauge shot gun. Worry over his financial condition is thought to have been the cause of the rash act.
Bennett arose at 5 o'clock, went into the kitchen and closed the door between the two rooms. A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a gun shot and called to her husband, asking him what he was doing. He replied that the gun had been discharged accidentally. As he had been accustomed to shooting rats before breakfast his wife gave no furhter thought to the incident. The shot made a hole in the kitchen floor.
A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a second shot on the back porch. Going to the porch she found the dead body of her husband slumped down on the porch floor, an ugly hole in his forehead. His right foot was bare and indications were that while leaning against the side of the house he had placed the muzzle of the gun against his forehead and pulled the trigger with his toe. Apparently all the shot remained inside his head.
Bennett was injured in an automobile collision in Creston in January and several times since then had talked of suicide, indicating he was considering it seriously.
County Coroner Edna Sexsmith was called, but thought an inquest unnecessary, as it was plainly a case of suicide.
Bennet is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Claude Antisdel, and a son, Roy, 21, at home.
Funeral services will be held at Otis Chapel Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be held in the Union cemetery. - Fontanelle Observer
May 21, 1931
Page 21
Earl Bennett, 51, a farmer living 9 miles south and one mile west of Fontanelle took his own life shortly after 5 o'clock Wednesday morning by shooting himself in the forehead with a 410 gauge shot gun. Worry over his financial condition is thought to have been the cause of the rash act.
Bennett arose at 5 o'clock, went into the kitchen and closed the door between the two rooms. A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a gun shot and called to her husband, asking him what he was doing. He replied that the gun had been discharged accidentally. As he had been accustomed to shooting rats before breakfast his wife gave no furhter thought to the incident. The shot made a hole in the kitchen floor.
A little later Mrs. Bennett heard a second shot on the back porch. Going to the porch she found the dead body of her husband slumped down on the porch floor, an ugly hole in his forehead. His right foot was bare and indications were that while leaning against the side of the house he had placed the muzzle of the gun against his forehead and pulled the trigger with his toe. Apparently all the shot remained inside his head.
Bennett was injured in an automobile collision in Creston in January and several times since then had talked of suicide, indicating he was considering it seriously.
County Coroner Edna Sexsmith was called, but thought an inquest unnecessary, as it was plainly a case of suicide.
Bennet is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Claude Antisdel, and a son, Roy, 21, at home.
Funeral services will be held at Otis Chapel Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be held in the Union cemetery. - Fontanelle Observer
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