ELMORE, Hubert - Putnam

Funeral services for Hubert Elmore of Stilesville who committed suicide in the Morgan County jail at Martinsville Sunday morning were held at Stilesville Tuesday morning. Elmore hanged himself to the bars of his cell. Speaking of the young man’s death the Martinsville Reporter says: “About midnight Saturday night the police officers picked up a tramp and placed him in jail. Elmore was all right at that time. About 10 o’clock Sunday morning, Mrs. Lucase, wife of sheriff AJ Lucas, went into the cell compartment to serve breakfast to those two men, they being the only prisoners in jail. The older man said to Mrs. Lucas, “There’s something wrong with that fellow in the other cell.,” Mrs. Lucas called her husband who found Elmore’s lifeless body swaying against the bars of his cell. Some time ago Elmore lost the end of the second finger of his left hand in an accident and was carrying his arm in a sling while the wound healed. He had used this sling to hang himself fastening the sling to the bars in his cell near the top, above the iron piece that holds the bars together. Elmore’s feet touched the floor and his knees were bent over. He had evidently strangled himself to death. Elmore was arrested about noon on Saturday by Chief of Police Risinger after he had attempted to pass a bad check in this city. He was placed in jail to await court proceedings in his case. Shortly before noon Saturday Sheriff Lucas received a call from the sheriff at Bloomington, instructing him to arrest Elmore because of a bad check charge at Bloomington. Lucas was informed that he would find Elmore at Morgantown. However, before Lucas could go to Morgantown, Elmore was brought to the jail by Risinger. Elmore was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Elmore, residing near Stilesville. He is survived by his parents, three sisters, Mrs. Bertha McGinnis and Mrs. Margaret Minks, living in Bloomington, and Gladys at home; and six brothers, Carl Elmore of Stilesville; Cecil and John S. Elmore of Hall; and Charles and Chester Elmore, at home. The body was taken to Cloverdale Sunday evening by Undertaker Frank Reed of Cloverdale. Some notes addressed to his parents were found on his person by Cure & Hensley, undertakers. He said he did not wish to go back to prison, giving that as his reason for taking his own life. He had been in trouble before and had served in prison it is said. -kz