Tomlinson - Milo
Source: Weekly Argus News Jan 14, 1893 p 6
The funeral of Milo Tomlinson occurred at Mt. Pleasant yesterday and was very largely attended. Mrs. Tomlinson, who was but recovering from a serious illness is prostrated over the terrible affair and was unable to attend the service at the church. However a short service was held at the house before going to the church. The remains were interred at Oak Hill - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wednesday, 4 January 1893
The deliberate suicide of Milo S. Tomlinson, one of the most prominent young men of this county, has been the all absorbing topic of conversation today on the streets and in the stores. The affair is one of the most awfully tragic in the history of the city, and is of so terrible a nature that the whole community is inexpressibly shocked. Many tales and rumors have been afloat in regard to the suicide, and the causes which led up to it. Most of these tales and rumors are groundless and visionary. The tragedy is very terrible at best and is best told in the following plain account furnished The Journal by a responsible person in a position to know whereof he speaks:
Some several weeks ago Milo S. Tomlinson left the country rather suddenly, leaving behind no word as to where he was gone, or how long he would stay. He was supposed to have taken quite a large sum of money with him and the theory of crookedness was generally advanced, when, in the course of a few days, numerous notes of his begun to show up with the name of Henry Tomlinson, his father, as security. The Elder Tomlinson knew nothing of many of these notes, and it was evident that his son had put his name to them without his knowledge. Henry Tomlinson expressed his intention of standing good for the notes, however, and numerous suits were filed against him and Milo in the circuit court, judgment being taken in two of the notes yesterday afternoon prior to the awful consummation of the whole sad business.
Several days ago it was ascertained from a telegram sent to John McClamrock, his brother-in-law, that Milo was sick in Illinois and would shortly appear in Crawfordsville.
On Monday afternoon M. E. Clodfelter, of the law firm of Hurley & Clodfelter, of this city, was in Peoria on his way home from Kansas City and Joplin. He went to the Big Four station to take the train for home and there met Milo Tomlinson. Milo was weak and had manifestly been quite ill. He was glad to see Mr. Clodfelter and hastened forward to shake hands. They entered the car together and the young man at once began to inquire concerning his affairs at home, and how people looked upon his departure. He seemed especially concerned in learning how his wife and her relatives felt toward him. Mr. Clodfelter said he could not say positively and stated briefly the way in which the community looked upon the unfortunate affair. Tomlinson declared that he had never intended wrong. He said that he did not flee the county, but had gone from Crawfordsville directly to Kentucky to the race sales. He had intended to sell his running horses that were not burned with his stable in the fall. He failed to make the sale and went for a visit to his wife’s relatives in Missouri. He was kindly received and neither they nor he knew of the furor his absence was creating at home. He finally started home and had come as far as Galesburg, Ill., when he was suddenly taken sick while waiting for a train and his condition becoming serious he was carried to a boarding house where he suffered greatly for some days.
As soon as he was able he wired his relatives of his whereabouts and started home, although scarcely able to walk and very nervous. He further declared that he had not committed forgery. He stated that he and his father had given each other carte blanche to use each other’s names as surety, and he had merely acted somewhat indiscreetly in this. He stated that he wished, above all things, to make his wife safe, as he had spent about $3,500 of her money. He did not expected to be able to pay all his debts, but he wanted to maker her safe. The conversation ended by Mr. Clodfelter being commissioned to go on ahead and interview Mrs. Tomlinson and his other relatives in regard to the condition of affairs. Milo stepped off at Covington to await developments.
Mr. Clodfelter came on home, secured a buggy and drove at once to see the young man’s wife, who is just recovering from a severe illness. He gave her a letter which Milo had sent and which seemed to affect her deeply. She declared that she knew he never intended to desert her and gave to Mr. Clodfelter a reply together with a letter of instructions to her husband.
Mr. Clodfelter accordingly went to Covington yesterday afternoon accompanied by Mrs. Tomlinson’s brother, Will McClamrock. They met Milo and he was cordially greeted by both. He read his wife’s letter which seemed one of sympathy and was considerably moved by its contents. He expressed a perfect willingness to come on to Crawfordsville and all boarded the passenger train due here at 5:18 p.m. they talked quite a good deal regarding the future and Milo seemed quite cheerful under the harrowing circumstances. When several miles west of here, Mr. Clodfelter went back several seats to chat with attorney Bingham, of Covington, leaving Mr. McClamrock and Milo together. He noticed that just before the trestle was reached, Milo arose, walked to the front end of the car and sat down on the little side seat by the door. Just after this the brakesman shouted “Crawfordsville” and he saw they were flying through the campus. He arose and began putting on his coat as did several others. In the midst of the confusion a pistol shot rang out above the roar and he looked up to see Milo’s head drop back, his features relax and a large revolver fall from his hands to the floor. Before anyone had time to reach him, the train pulled up at the station and a scene of confusion followed.
The word flew from mouth to mouth and reached Henry Tomlinson who was waiting for his son’s arrival. Together with Officer Milholland he boarded the train and stooped over the dead body of his son. He was quite dead even so soon and death must have been instantaneous and painless. He had placed a 32 caliber revolver squarely between his eyes and fired, sitting all the while in his seat. He had evidently formed his intention of so doing when he left Mr. McClamrock and took the isolated seat. The strain was too much for his shattered system and he could not stand the thought of what lay before him. The body was carried into the station and later to McClure & Scott’s undertaking establishment, where it was kept during the night.
Milo Tomlinson left his affairs in a somewhat chaotic state. Besides the $3,500 he owed his wife he had about $6,000 besides out. Mrs. Tomlinson is left about safe. Last November she was deeded 50 acres of good land worth about $40 an acre, upon which was a mortgage for $1,200. she received about $600 in property on the farm and two valuable running horses. Yesterday morning Mr. Clodfelter turned over to her $940 cash which Milo had sent by him.
Coroner Bronaugh arrived from New Ross this morning and held a short inquest to comply with the law.
When Mrs. Tomlinson was informed of her husband’s suicide, she was almost distracted and the shock may result seriously as she is already in wretched health.
The funeral will occur tomorrow morning. The procession will start from the undertaker’s at seven o’clock and proceed to the residence of Mrs. Tomlinson, 6 miles north. After short services there, the funeral discourse will be preached by Rev. T. C. Shanklin at the Mount Pleasant Church. Interment will be at Oak Hill.