THE TEMPLETON TRAGEDY,
WILLIAM A. OVERMIRE OF TEMPLETON COMMITS SUICIDE AT HIS OWN RESIDENCE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS OWN FAMILY - BROODING OVER FINANCIAL TROUBLES WAS THE CAUSE.

On Saturday morning the people of this town were startled by a telephone report from Templeton that William A. Overmire of Templeton, had committed suicide by cutting his throat. A delegation from Manning at once left for Templeton and found the report to be only too true.

On a couch in a small bedroom laid the remains of a powerfully built man, with his throat cut from ear to ear and covered with blood from his own hands. It was a sad spectacle, indeed, and one of the most revolting suicides known in the history of the state.

The circumstances which caused the tragedy are, as near as we can obtain them, as follows: About the 20th of March, last, Mr. Overmire discovered that the general merchandise store in which he was interested, was involved in debt to the amount of about $4,000, and there was no money of the firm's on hand to meet the obligations. It is said that he had supposed that the store was making money and all bills had been paid. Reports also say that the management of the store had been left with his partner, A.D. Campbell and in him he had entrusted the entire business, and when the discovery was made, the mind of the deceased was unbalanced. Mr. Campbell gave a bill of sale of stock to his partner, and if the stock sold for more than enough to pay the obligations, was to have his share of balance.

Time wore on, Mr. Overmire continuing the business, but instead of trying to throw off the despondency, he kept brooding over the matter, until he really thought he was financially ruined; and his mind wandered from one thing to another until he thought to end his mental sufferings by taking his own life.

On Saturday morning the deceased went up town and there had a talk with his brother, J.S. Overmire and in the course of conversation told him he was going to kill himself. The brother had no idea that such was to be the case, but he knew that Bill was terribly worried, and he proposed to him that they take a drive in the country in order to get his mind away from business cares. Bill said he would go and at once started for home. Herman Hart, who was near by, was asked by Joe if he would take Bill out in the country, and assenting, they both went to the home of Bill. They hailed him and asked him if he was ready to take the ride. "Ready," said he, and with that word resting upon his lips, he pulled from his pocket a knife, which was already opened, and began cutting his neck to the right of the windpipe. It was done in a jiffy, but the two men were at once a hold of him, but Bill being such a powerful man, and with more than his natural strength, kept cutting until he was thrown to the ground and then the knife was taken from him, and, to all appearances he had given up. The blood streamed from the wound, and the men undertook to bandage it. In the meantime John Horn was attracted to the spot by the cries of one of Mr. Overmire's children, and on his arrival Mr. Hart went to the telegraph office to summons Dr. Williams of Manning, (Dr. Henry not being there) thinking that Mr. Overmire could yet be saved. Mr. Hart was gone probably ten minutes and about that time Bill made a desperate lunge, carrying the three men with him, and made his way into the kitchen where he procured a butcher knife, and although the men had a strong hold on his arms, he carried the knife to his throat and slit it from ear to ear, severing the windpipe. He then went outside, where he crawled on his hands and knees for a short distance and then gave up. He lived about five minutes after receiving the last cut. This act was done in the presence of his family and they could do naught to hinder it.

Mr. William A. Overmire was born on the 4th of July, 1843, and moved to Carroll County fifteen years ago this month. He was in poor circumstances, but by hard labor and economical habits he rapidly accumulated property. He was the owner of the farm on which the C., M. & St. P. railroad located the town of Templeton, and he sold the site to them for $9,000. He was engaged in the mercantile trade for nearly five years, being the senior member of the firm of Overmire & Campbell; which partnership was dissolved on the 23d day of last month. He was engaged for several years with Mr. D.J. Carlisle in buying and shipping live stock, to which business he devoted most of his time, leaving the store in charge of Mr. Campbell. He was very successful in the stock business, and had plenty to pay all of his obligations and have from $6,000 to $10,000 left, but his mind was unbalanced and he imagined that he was swamped in the financial sea. He leaves a wife and five children, besides an aged mother and six brothers and sisters to mourn his untimely and sad death.

He was a member of Manning Lodge, 122, I.O.O.F. and Manual Lodge, 450, A.F. & A.M., of Manning. The deceased served nine years as a member of the Board of Supervisors, which position he filled with credit to himself and in a highly satisfactory manner to the people. He was a power in politics in Eden Township and his genial ways and commonsense views on all subjects won for him many and lasting friends.

The funeral of the deceased occurred from the Methodist church in Templeton on Tuesday; under the auspices of the I.O.O.F. of Manning; assisted by delegations from the lodges at Carroll, Dedham and Coon Rapids. Mr. Thomas Roderick of Dedham, an old and intimate friend of the deceased, preached the funeral sermon. The procession to the Elba Cemetery was fully a mile long. The sad rites at the grave were performed by the order having the affair in charge, and the relatives and friends of the deceased sadly left the cemetery.