Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Samuel Armes
Washington Democrat
Saturday, 23 Jun 1900
Samuel Arms Hangs Himself in Jail; He Was a Reeve Township Farmer, Recently Declared Insane
He Hanged Himself With a Towel - Body Was Cold and Stiff When Found by Turnkey Arvin
Thursday Daily
Samuel Arms, a Reeve township farmer, was found dead in the county jail shortly after noon today, his body being supported by a towel, one end of which was tied about his neck, the other around the top bar of his cell.
The ghastly find was made by Turnkey Clayton Arvin. Arvin took Arms' dinner to him but when the prisoner failed to come for it the turnkey entered the corridor to investigate the cause. In the first cell to the left on the second floor, Arms was found dead. The turnkey immediately summoned Sheriff McCord who cut down the suicide. His body was cold and stiff, indicating that life had departed several hours before. The body was carried down stairs to the jail office where many viewed it. Later the remains were taken to Bonham's Sons' morgue where they were prepared for burial.
It is quite evident that Armes tied the towel about the top bar of his cell, then, while standing upon his bed, tied the other end about his neck after which he stepped off the bed and permitted himself to be strangled to death. His feet were dragging upon the stone floor when found and apparently he had not attempted to save himself by grabbing the iron bars.
Arms was recently declared insane and only last Tuesday evening he was brought to the jail to await admittance to the Evansville hospital. Arms was a prosperous farmer. He owned a well stocked farm of 160 acres in Reeve township and was a hard working man. He leaves a wife and four children.
Contributed by: Sandra Hedrick Allen