Obituary of Clifford Starkweather, published in the Portland Observer, Thursday, July 31, 1930:
The body of Clifford Starkweather, 40, Danby township farmer, was found hanging from a tree on the farm where he resided by Charles Pryer, a neighbor, shortly before noon Friday.
Despondency over failure of his crops and legal
entanglements of a criminal nature are thought to have been the motive for the man's rash deed.
Starkweather formerly resided at Lansing and last Fall moved to Danby locating on the Jacob Morris farm formerly owned by Horace Rozell, southeast of the Grubtown schoolhouse.
His body was found hanging about 25 feet from the
ground from the limb of a tree in a patch of woods 50 rods from his home. He had been dead several hours when found.
"Things are in bad shape for me, so I am going to end it all" he wrote in a letter addressed to Sheriff William Franch that was found in his clothing. Two other letters, written to relatives, were also found.
Starkweather appeared to be dejected Thursday evening, his wife told the sheriff and Coroner Mathew J. Bradley, who visited the scene. Friday morning he left home, saying he was going to Grand river, not far distant from the farm, and would be back in a short time. When he neglected to return some time later his wife summoned Charles Pryor, a neighbor, who discovered the body after considerable searching. Nearby, on a stump, was his cap in which was lying a razor.
Starkweather, according to his wife, had been released from Jackson prison last January after completing an 18 month's term for illegal conversion of another's property.
Besides the wife, Starkweather leaves his father, Henry Starkweather, at Eagle; a brother, Alex Starkweather, at Watertown Center, and two sisters in Lansing.
An inquest was deemed unnecessary."
Additional information provided by Jim Easom:
"Married Mrs. Ada (Knapp) McCarn Sept. 11, 1919; divorced between 1920-24.
The body of Clifford Starkweather, 40, Danby township farmer, was found hanging from a tree on the farm where he resided by Charles Pryer, a neighbor, shortly before noon Friday.
Despondency over failure of his crops and legal
entanglements of a criminal nature are thought to have been the motive for the man's rash deed.
Starkweather formerly resided at Lansing and last Fall moved to Danby locating on the Jacob Morris farm formerly owned by Horace Rozell, southeast of the Grubtown schoolhouse.
His body was found hanging about 25 feet from the
ground from the limb of a tree in a patch of woods 50 rods from his home. He had been dead several hours when found.
"Things are in bad shape for me, so I am going to end it all" he wrote in a letter addressed to Sheriff William Franch that was found in his clothing. Two other letters, written to relatives, were also found.
Starkweather appeared to be dejected Thursday evening, his wife told the sheriff and Coroner Mathew J. Bradley, who visited the scene. Friday morning he left home, saying he was going to Grand river, not far distant from the farm, and would be back in a short time. When he neglected to return some time later his wife summoned Charles Pryor, a neighbor, who discovered the body after considerable searching. Nearby, on a stump, was his cap in which was lying a razor.
Starkweather, according to his wife, had been released from Jackson prison last January after completing an 18 month's term for illegal conversion of another's property.
Besides the wife, Starkweather leaves his father, Henry Starkweather, at Eagle; a brother, Alex Starkweather, at Watertown Center, and two sisters in Lansing.
An inquest was deemed unnecessary."
Additional information provided by Jim Easom:
"Married Mrs. Ada (Knapp) McCarn Sept. 11, 1919; divorced between 1920-24.
Obituary of Clifford Starkweather, published in the Portland Observer, Thursday, July 31, 1930:
The body of Clifford Starkweather, 40, Danby township farmer, was found hanging from a tree on the farm where he resided by Charles Pryer, a neighbor, shortly before noon Friday.
Despondency over failure of his crops and legal
entanglements of a criminal nature are thought to have been the motive for the man's rash deed.
Starkweather formerly resided at Lansing and last Fall moved to Danby locating on the Jacob Morris farm formerly owned by Horace Rozell, southeast of the Grubtown schoolhouse.
His body was found hanging about 25 feet from the
ground from the limb of a tree in a patch of woods 50 rods from his home. He had been dead several hours when found.
"Things are in bad shape for me, so I am going to end it all" he wrote in a letter addressed to Sheriff William Franch that was found in his clothing. Two other letters, written to relatives, were also found.
Starkweather appeared to be dejected Thursday evening, his wife told the sheriff and Coroner Mathew J. Bradley, who visited the scene. Friday morning he left home, saying he was going to Grand river, not far distant from the farm, and would be back in a short time. When he neglected to return some time later his wife summoned Charles Pryor, a neighbor, who discovered the body after considerable searching. Nearby, on a stump, was his cap in which was lying a razor.
Starkweather, according to his wife, had been released from Jackson prison last January after completing an 18 month's term for illegal conversion of another's property.
Besides the wife, Starkweather leaves his father, Henry Starkweather, at Eagle; a brother, Alex Starkweather, at Watertown Center, and two sisters in Lansing.
An inquest was deemed unnecessary."
Additional information provided by Jim Easom:
"Married Mrs. Ada (Knapp) McCarn Sept. 11, 1919; divorced between 1920-24.
The body of Clifford Starkweather, 40, Danby township farmer, was found hanging from a tree on the farm where he resided by Charles Pryer, a neighbor, shortly before noon Friday.
Despondency over failure of his crops and legal
entanglements of a criminal nature are thought to have been the motive for the man's rash deed.
Starkweather formerly resided at Lansing and last Fall moved to Danby locating on the Jacob Morris farm formerly owned by Horace Rozell, southeast of the Grubtown schoolhouse.
His body was found hanging about 25 feet from the
ground from the limb of a tree in a patch of woods 50 rods from his home. He had been dead several hours when found.
"Things are in bad shape for me, so I am going to end it all" he wrote in a letter addressed to Sheriff William Franch that was found in his clothing. Two other letters, written to relatives, were also found.
Starkweather appeared to be dejected Thursday evening, his wife told the sheriff and Coroner Mathew J. Bradley, who visited the scene. Friday morning he left home, saying he was going to Grand river, not far distant from the farm, and would be back in a short time. When he neglected to return some time later his wife summoned Charles Pryor, a neighbor, who discovered the body after considerable searching. Nearby, on a stump, was his cap in which was lying a razor.
Starkweather, according to his wife, had been released from Jackson prison last January after completing an 18 month's term for illegal conversion of another's property.
Besides the wife, Starkweather leaves his father, Henry Starkweather, at Eagle; a brother, Alex Starkweather, at Watertown Center, and two sisters in Lansing.
An inquest was deemed unnecessary."
Additional information provided by Jim Easom:
"Married Mrs. Ada (Knapp) McCarn Sept. 11, 1919; divorced between 1920-24.
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