McMullen - George
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 24 June 1898
Indianapolis News: In the criminal court this morning the case against George McMullen, charged with grand larceny, was dismissed and the entry made read: “Defendant committed suicide yesterday.” He had been notified to appear for trial today, but the court officials read of his death in the newspapers. Soon after the case was dismissed, McMullen’s bondsman, John E. Jones, of New Ross, appeared before the court with particulars of the man’s death. He was released from the bond. It appears from two letters from McMullen that his notification to appear for trial today was the cause of his suicidal act. One was addressed to Tom and Mollie Webb, with whom he had made his home, a half mile from New Ross. It read: “Thursday morning, 3 o’clock, June 16, 1898—Oh, dear brother and sister, oh, dear, do forgive me for the rash act I am about to do, though, dear ones, this is more than I can stand. Oh, you dear ones have always shown such kindness to me and have been so good to me in every respect through this trial case. I can’t go over there. I haven’t any money to go on or to take my witnesses to help me out, so I would rather die now. I haven’t time to write any more now, only I will leave a note here to my children and you please send it to them. Oh, dear Lord, how I do hate to leave you all. Your loving friend,
George W. McMullen.”
“Oh, I wish you both all happiness in this world. God love and bless you, dear hearts, is the wish of a good friend.”
In the note to his children, he asked for their forgiveness if he succeeded in killing himself. He asked them to make the burial expenses as small as possible, and put on him “only a white shroud.” He said, also to the, that he could not go to trial without money. “I am so nervous,” he wrote, “I can’t write any more. By-bye and lots of kisses to you all. Dear old papa,
George W. McMullen.”
His three children, who live in this city, are Mrs. Morris Henderson and Charles and Claude McMullen. He went to the barn, lay upon a quilt and shot himself in the temple with a rifle. He was found by Thomas Webb, who had gone to McMullen’s room, and found that he had not slept there. The two letters on the table told him the story, and before he opened them, he went to the barn. McMullen was 53 years old. He was under a bond of only $300. Judge McCray said this morning that he had good reason to believe that McMullen was innocent of the charge against him.
Source; Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 24 June 1898
New Ross, Ind., June 16—George W. McMullen, of Indianapolis, committed suicide about 5 o’clock this morning at the home of Thomas Webb, about one mile from this place. He was 54 years old and was worried over a law suit. He arose at an early hour and left a note for Mr. Webb, in which he stated that he intended to kill himself. Upon the family investigating after finding the note, McMullen’s body was found in the barn. He had shot himself and must have died at once. He also left a note for his children. He had been working for Ben Tipton this spring and had on several occasions threatened to kill himself. He was a drinking man and some think that this had to do with his troubles. - thanks muches to S for both of these - so sad ~!