The Winfield Daily Free Press
Winfield, Kansas
Thursday, September 5, 1912
page 1

Tom Wasson Took His Own Life

Body Found On The Old Farm In Decomposed State.

Dead Since Last Thursday

A Pioneer Settler Longed for the Company of His Old Dog - Father of Twelve Children - Buried Beside Wife.

Coroner Marsh and Undertaker James E. Davenport, were notified last night that a badly decomposed body had been found at a vacant farm house two miles north of Kellogg. They went at once to the spot in Mr. Davenport's machine and found the body of Tom Wasson, at the old homestead which he had pre-empted many years ago. The body was badly decomposed and discolored, having been exposed to the hot sun since Thursday or Friday of last week.

A large number of neighbors and friends of the dead man were there but on account of the condition of the body it had not been touched. Indeed it was nearly impossible to approach very close to it.

On examination the undertaker found a four ounce bottle of laundanum, with only a small portion of the liquid remaining. It was a plain case of suicide.

In one pocket was found a letter addressed to the coroner. It read as follows: Udall, Kans., September 31, 1911, Coroner of Cowley County, Kansas: It will not be necessary to hold an inquest over me. Save the poor county the expense.
Yours truly,
T.M. Wasson.

The date on this letter was a surprise to the coroner. It shows that Mr. Wasson had contemplated suicide for near a full year.

Besides this note letters were found addressed to the children as follows: Miss Belva Wasson, Salina, Kans.; Miss Gusa G. Wasson, Stoner, Okla.; Mr. L.A. Wasson, Del Norte, Colo.; Roy A. Wasson, Blackwell, Okla.; N.A. Wasson, Sterling, Okla.; John Jacobs, Winfield, Kansas; W.L. Worrill, Blackwell, Okla.; Mrs. Emma Arrighi, Hutchinson, Kans.; Mrs. Maud Shaw, Gipson City, Kans.; Clyde E. Neville, Spokane, Wash.; Tom Mock, Winfield, Kans.

Mr. Wasson was a pioneer resident of Cowley county. In the early days he homesteaded on the farm on which his body was found. He was the father of twelve children and had other relatives in this county.

Several years ago his wife died, and was buried in Mt. Vernon cemetery. About three years ago he sold the old home place, and went to Oklahoma. He made some unfortunate investments and returned to this county discouraged and downcast. He made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Tom Mock, south of Udall. He was known to be unhappy and despondent, but no one knew he thought of suicide. From the letters found it is evident that he had contemplated taking his life for some time.

Mr. Wasson has been variously employed since he came back to Cowley county, recently he started out selling fruit trees for the Cooper-Rogers Nursery company.

The day he committed suicide he started from Udall to the old homestead. He had quarreled with his relatives, and accused them of trying to rob him, and had charged the whole world with being against him. Despondent, dejected and imagining himself to be alone, with the world against him, he wrote a letter to whomever might find his body. This was dated August 29. It written on a paper sack and placed in his pocket. The paper was so badly soiled part of the lead pencil writing was uncipherable. As much as can be made out is as follows:

"To My Children all: You may all have what you have, I have tried to be self-sustaining until last year, but could not *** As you *** by letters to each of you. But I thought to try *** My suit case at Udall *** Check for same *** Sell what *** and pay Mrs. Thomas. If I could have *** this would not have happened *** The old man's effects. You may feel good over it. It is getting late and I am about a mile south of Udall. Give Cooper the fruit books in my satchell."

On the opposite side of the sack was the following:

"Now the sun is down. Just in the yard T.M.

"If even old (R--) old dog, was here even. On the old homestead. I am so tired, Walked from *** T.M."

The body was found by a mover going through the country. It was nearly dark when he approached the house and saw the body of the man on the porch of the house. He at once gave the alarm to the neighbors. A number of neighbors soon collected at the place and sent word to the authorities in Winfield. Mr. Davenport and Coroner Marsh reached the house about 9 o'clock. The grewsome find was made clear by the automobile lamps. The pockets were searched and the letters found. Inquiry showed that the farm had not been occupied this summer. Mr. Pomerene had the place in charge. On Thursday he had been to the place to get a load of hay and Mrs. Pomerene had picked peaches. Weeds had grown up in the yard and the house set back from the road. It is supposed that it was on Thursday night that the lonely man came to the home of his prosperous years and there swallowed laundnum which ended his life. He is supposed to have been past sixy years of age.

Funeral services were held today. Burial was in Mt. Vernon cemetery beside the remains of his wife.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)