ALLEN, Charles - 1894 - Putnam

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allen (Parkersburg) The people of this vicinity were very much shocked to learn of the suicide of Charles Allen, living some 5 miles west of here, last Friday morning. He was found in the barn by his son with both jugular veins and windpipe severed. The son returned to the house and found his mother, who had been quite sick for over a week in a dying condition. She only survived her husband but a short time and was not informed of him taking his life. The remains of both parents were kept until Monday awaiting the arrival of relatives from Kansas and Florida. Funeral services conducted at Russellville by Rev. GP Fuson, of Crawfordsville. Interment at Russellville Cemetery in one grave. We extend sympathy to the family in this double bereavement.

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Crawfordsville Journal, Nov. 30, 1894

A dramatic suicide was that of Charles E. Allen, of near Browns Valley last Fri. Charles E. Allen was 55 years old and lived on the old Stephen Allen farm near Browns Valley. His family consisted of his wife and half a dozen grown sons, all of who are well known over the county. Mrs. Allen had been very sick for some time and her death had been expected for several days. Thursday she was very low and James Galey and wife and Mrs. John Jones with others sat up with the family. Early Friday morning Mrs. Jones who sat at the bedside of Mrs. Allen noticed Mr. Allen enter a closet and heard him rattling around among the shelves. Soon something fell to the floor with a metallic ring and a moment later Mr. Allen came out looking very sad and despondent. He soon passed out into the yard and went to the stable. He was feeding the stock when Mr. Galey came out a little later to harness his horse to go home. Mr. Allen insisted on feeding it before he left but Mr. Galey was in a hurry and drove off leaving Mr. Allen busy about the barn. It was half an hour later perhaps that Mrs. Allen was seen to be dying and Mr. Allen's cousin, James Henry Allen hastened to the barn to summon him to the house. He called but received no answer. Something moved him to ascend into the loft and doing so he was met with a horrible sight. Stretched out upon the hay was the dead body of Charley Allen. He had deliberately cut his throat with a pocketknife and had lain there with his lifeblood gushing from the ugly 4" gash. With a cry of dismay his cousin turned and hurried to the house only to find that the suicide's wife had just passed away. The neighbors were quickly aroused and Coroner Barcus was summoned from Crawfordsville. The case was a most pitiable one. Mr. Allen's health had not been good for some time and his deed is attributable perhaps to sickness and grief at the loss of his wife.

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Note: Have found Sarah's maiden name as VanScoyoc and also Lear - not sure which is correct - sorry.