HEATH, Laura - Putnam

Mrs. MJ Heath, elderly Cloverdale woman, ended her life Monday by shooting herself in the abdomen with a small calibre revolver. Death occurred at noon.  That Mrs. Heath had contemplated the act for some time was indicated in notes to a neighbor woman,  a niece and the undertaker, giving directions for her funeral.  Mrs. Heath is believed to have shot herself about 5:30 o’clock Monday morning as neighbors heard a shot in her home, which is just back of the Utterback store in the heart of Cloverdale at that time. Going to the door they asked admittance and were told by Mrs. Heath that the front door was unlocked. She lingered until noon when death occurred. The bullet had taken affect in her stomach. Mr. and Mrs. Heath removed to Cloverdale about a year ago from Mooresville. Mr. Heath who was a shoe cobbler, died about two months ago and was buried at Cloverdale. It is said Mrs. Heath told neighbors following his death that she would not be there long. Friday she excluded neighbors from her home. She is believed to have penned the notes Sunday. It is believed Mrs. Heath was a few years younger than her husband who was 70 when he died two months ago. Very little is known of the couple as they lived to themselves Mrs. Heath is said to have been more reclusive than ever following her husband’s death. Funeral arrangements were to be made after arrival of the niece from Anderson. - kbz