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Sullivan Shot Self Deed Committed at Home Southeast of This City Fired Bullet Into His Head Joe Sullivan Takes His Own Life While Temporarily Insane is Jury Verdict This morning at perhaps 4:30 or 5 o'clock Joe Sullivan, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser living four and one-half miles southeast of this city, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a 38-caliber revolver. His lifeless body was found soon after by his son, Charles, a lad of 10 years old, who was asleep in the room, having been sleeping with his father. The boy was not aroused by the shot, but awakened soon after and seeing his father on the floor rushed down stairs and alarmed the household. Coroner Roland was summoned and with Sheriff Hull and Dr. Hawley departed for the Sullivan home at an early hour. They found the body lying on the floor beside the bed, partially dressed, with one hand still gripping the revolver with which the deed had been committed. The bullet had entered the head just back of the right temple and ranged downward. Some of the relative of Mr. Sullivan were of the opinion that it was an accidental shooting, as he was known to have kept the revolver in the house and to have loaded it evenings and unloaded it again in the mornings, but the direction of the bullet's course would signify that the gun was held almost above the head which would not be the case in unloading it. A coroner's jury was empanneled, consisting of Robt. McKay, Cal. Homan and J. N. B. Miller and their verdict was that Mr. Sullivan shot himself while temporarily insane. Mr. Sullivan had not been very well for some time, and his conversation with Corning people on various occasions had led to fears for his reason. Mr. Sullivan leaves a wife, daughter and three sons, besides numerous other relatives and friends, to mourn his untimely demise. No preparations have been made for the funeral services at this writing. (Adams County Union-Republican, Wednesday, July 16, 1913) Joseph R. Sullivan Joe R. Sullivan, of Mercer township, whose sad death was mentioned in last week's issue, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1873. He was aged 40 years, 2 months and15 days at the time of his death which occurred at his home at an early hour Wednesday morning, July 16, 1913. Mr. Sullivan with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sullivan, now deceased, came to Adams county in 1875 and has since made his home here. In 1901 Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss Margaret Lynch, who with their three sons and one daughter, remains to mourn the loss. Beside the immediate family Mr. Sullivan leaves a number of brothers and sisters and a large number of friends. He came to his death by a gunshot in his head and the coroner's jury returned the following verdict: "We do find that the deceased came to his death by a 38-calibre revolver in his own hands about 5:30 o'clock on July 16, 1913, at his residence in Mercer township, Adams county, Iowa." Funeral services were held at St. Patrick's Catholic church Friday morning, July 18th, conducted by Rev. Father Dennis Murphy, of Creston, assisted by Rev. Father O'Neal, of Davenport, and interment was made in Calvary cemetery. (Adams County Union-Republican, Wednesday, July 23, 1913)
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