The Barn

Reported Saturday, July 15, 1939.

Eben Wallace, local farmer, found dead by his wife.

Mrs. Wallace gave the following statement:

Mr. Wallace was hard to get along with. When things didn't go the way he wanted, he would go out to the barn, threatening suicide. Mr. Wallace would stand up on a bucket and put a noose around his neck, but she would always manage to persuade him not to do it. On the afternoon of July 14, about 4:00 p.m., they had a dispute. Mr. Wallace made his usual threats, but she didn't follow him to the barn right away. When she did go to the barn, she found the premises as represented in the model.

The bucket usually stood in the corner just inside the barn door, but yesterday she had used it and left it out by the pump. The rope was always kept fastened to the beam just the way it was found--it was part of the regular barn hoist.

(To see a full-sized picture, click on the picture.)