Lockhart - Earl
Source: Crawfordsville Review Monday April 10, 1916
Earl LOCKHART, age
22 killed himself by a shot fired from a 30 calibre Colt's automatic
revolver at 5:30 Saturday afternoon at his home 711 Tuttle Ave. The
bullet, a steel jacketed one, entered the right temple, ranged slightly
down and came out back of the left ear. The bullet was found on the
floor shortly after the shooting. Lockhart was employed as one of the
operators of the signal tower at the junction, his tour of duty being
from midnight to 8 a.m. On Saturday afternoon with his wife Lockhart had
been downtown. He seemed to be in the best of spirits on the way to
their home and had a pleasant greeting for friends. As they entered the
home at near 5:30 Mrs. Lockhart dropped into a chair to rest. Mr.
Lockhart passed around to the rear of his wife to a closet. The shot
rang out and the man fell to the floor dead. A nice, 12 years old was in
the room but was not paying particular attention to the acts of the
uncle. Both she and Mrs. Lockhart thought that Lockhart had gone to the
closet to get a match for a cigar that Mrs. Lockhart had given him. Mrs.
Lockhart was frantic with grief but managed to give the alarm.
Neighbors came in and the coroner was called. Dr. Williams arrived at
about 8 p.m. He found conditions substantially as stated above. He will
announce his verdict this morning. It will no doubt be that Lockhart
took his life, although the motive for such a rash act is wholly lacking
or unknown. Lockhart was a good, reliable workman and had been in the
employ of the Big 4 for fully four years. He was well qualified for his
position and got along well with his associated. His home life was ideal
and his neighbors say that he and his wife were in each other's company
a great deal of the time when he was off duty and that the
companionship seemed ideal. Mrs. Lockhart, almost crazed with grief over
the tragic affair could think of no reason for her husband's rash act.
There had been no quarrel and never an intimation from Lockhart that he w
as to do such a thing. The deceased man always carried a revolver to
his work. His was night employment and he was along in the night. Tramps
and vagrants often visited the tower and it was thought prudent that he
be armed. It is known that he loved his wife devotedly and might have
been of a jealous disposition if there had been any cause for it. But
that there was no cause for such a belief is certain. His parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Jack Lockhart his associates at the tower and all the neighbors
assert that the family relations were always of a pleasant character
and that the two were as lovers. This is the second one of the Big 4
employees to take their life. Henry Wisehart, auditor of the freight
department committed suicide by taking strychnine march 9. The second
affair has cast a gloom not only over the home but among the employees
of the road with whom young Lockhart was a favorite. - typed by kbz