YOWELL, James - Putnam

James Yowell, 70 years of age and for the last 30 a resident of this county has lately been living with his two daughters in the south part of town.  He is subject to slight spells of derangement at which times he makes things uncomfortable about home, often requiring the family to leave the house for safety.  Matters were allowed to take their own course until this week when complaint was made by outside parties to the township Trustee who went with a carriage on last Tuesday morning to convey him to the County farm it being thought that he could be cared for there better than elsewhere.  Mr. Allen found him sitting on a coal bin and told him his errand.  The old man asked him by what authority he came and said he would not go. After a half hour’s talk he consented however and, promising to be ready in a few minutes, stepped into an outhouse.  After waiting some time and calling to him without receiving any distinct reply, Mr. Allen opened the door and found Yowell sitting in a corner of the room with three heavy gashes cut in his neck and one ugly cut in the left arm.  He had attempted his own death rather than allow himself to be taken to the poorhouse.  The weapon used was an old, dull, half dirk pocket knife but the wound are not supposed to be fatal.  Mr. Allen stopped the flow of blood and after the wounds had been dressed by Dr. Wilcox took the old man to the County farm where he is doing as well as could be expected…..