Clinton MO - Ross Ward, 36-year-old operator of a barber shop on South Main Street in the Poague Building, Clinton, was found dead in the rear seat of his 1933 Chevrolet sedan about three miles southeast of Clinton near the Fred Kayser farm about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday by Jack Craig and Albert Weess, Clinton WPA workmen, who were picking up road markers on WPA constructed roads. Ward had told relatives he was going quail hunting Wednesday. He was slumped on his right side in the rear seat, the 12-gauge Parker double barrel shotgun at his feet, and with his left shoe off, apparently having used this foot to pull the trigger. The charge entered his chest near the heart. After discovering the body, Craig and Weess immediately came to Clinton to notify Sheriff J. D. Teays, who notified Prosecuting Attorney Mark Wilson and Coroner Dr. W. T. Jennings, and who with his deputy, R. M. Eberting, accompanied them to the scene, where they found the car parked on the right side of the road headed west. The keys were intact and a few cigarettes were lying in a package on top of the front seat and a paper sack beside them, giving evidence a half-dozen shells had been purchased. Deputy Sheriff Eberting returned to Clinton and with Constable Robert s. Allen, summoned a jury composed of O. K. Clay, foreman, E. A. Vansant, J. L. Miller, Fred Ward, Bruce Rucker and Bob Eberting. An inquest was conducted at the scene after an investigation in which Craig, Weess, Sheriff Teays, Constable Allen, Henry Dickman and Frank Wagner were called. Craig and Weess stated the time they found the body at 2:45, leaving immediately to notify the sheriff. They saw no one about when they made the discovery. Dickman stated he saw the empty car parked there about 9:00 a.m. Wednesday as he went to Clinton in his pickup truck. Returning about 11:30 Wednesday morning he saw the car still there, but noticed a man coming from the Fred Kayser timber toward the car. He said he didn't pay particular attention as there were many hunters frequently in that vicinity, but believed the man was Ward. Dickman said he again went by the car at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday but didn't notice whether anyone was in the car. Wagner, who works for Dickman, stated he went by the car in a wagon about 9:00 a.m. and saw a man lying in the back seat, but supposed he was just sleeping. Sheriff Teays told of being notified by Craig and Weess and going immediately to the scene. Sheriff Teays testified he had investigated a report over a year ago, that Ward was about to commit suicide, but succeeded in discouraging the attempt. After the testimony of the witnesses, the jury announced a verdict of "Death by a self-inflicted wound." The body was brought to the Wilkinson funeral Home in their ambulance about 5:00 p.m. Ross is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ward, one mile northwest of Clinton on Highway 35 who survive with his wife, the former Fannie Allen, and two daughters, Shirley Glee, six years old, and Gloria Jean, 11, of the home at 207 North Carter Street; two sisters, Mesdames Sam Nuss and Grover Harrison, both of near Clinton. He was a member of the Clinton First Baptist Church. funeral arrangements were not complete at press time; for further information call Wilkinson Funeral Home.