Omer Dutton
SUICIDE OF OMER B. DUTTON.
It is not often that a more sad case of suicide is chronicled than that which occurred in
Manning last Thursday night. Omer B. Dutton was apparently in his usual spirits when he left
school in the afternoon and played with his schoolmates until nearly six o'clock, when he
went to the home of his brother, Mr. Orson E. Dutton, where he has lived since last spring and did
the usual chores, not acting in the least strange. Mr. and Mrs. Dutton spent the evening with
Donald W. Sutherland and wife, and on their return, about 10:35, Mrs. Emma Dutton discovered a note on
the table, on the envelope of which was written:
Please read this twice.
Yours Forever, Omer Dutton.
She took the note and read the following:
MANNING, Ia., January 24, 1889.
Dear FATHER, SISTER AND BROTHERS:
Life is not worth living to me. Some people enjoy life, but it seems to be a burden to me. I
have been thinking for some time that I would like to die. Everybody says no person is in his
right mind when they think so. Do not think so for I am in as good a mind as ever, and that
is very poor. I want to be buried by the side of my mother at Nevada. I will meet you in
another world, happier than this one.
Sincerely; Omer B. Dutton.
Mrs. Emma Dutton was much agitated and could only point to the note and tell her husband to read. He read it and then hastened to Omer's room, and not finding him there searched for him in all the rooms up stairs. His wife thought she heard him breathing in her bedroom and it was there that he was found. Mr. and Mrs. Dutton returned to the Sutherland's and gave the alarm, and in a few minutes Drs. Brigham and Barber and several other friends arrived to give assistance.
It was found that the young man had placed a 32-calibre revolver into his mouth and sent a leaden ball through his brain. His wound was carefully dressed and everything done that medical skill could think of, but it was known that life could not linger but a few hours at least. Telegrams were sent to his father, Orson B. Dutton, President of the First National Bank at Missouri Valley and a brother, O.J. Dutton, banker at Grand Junction, the former arriving on the 1:27 Milwaukee train. The boy lived until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, being unconscious from the time of the fatal shot. The deceased was 15 years, 5 months and 7 days old. He was unobtrusive in disposition and although he was a jovial companion among his playmates, he took more comfort in reading books and papers than in any other way. He had no cares, had a luxurious home, money at command, and received every attention that a loving brother could bestow, and why this fit of despondency came so suddenly is explained only in the fact that he got to thinking about his mother, who died on the 24th of last April, which caused a partial alienation of the mind, and when it is known with what passionate fondness the mother and son were bound together, it is reasonable to assign this as the cause. Services were held at the home Saturday at 11 A.M. and the remains were taken to Nevada on the noon Northwestern train for interment. The many friends of this most respected family deeply sympathize with them in this sad affliction.