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Shows Himself at The Home of Charles Youngblood, South of Veedersburg Farry on Sat urday Morning. Arthur Kerr, the nineteen year old son of John Kerr, a proinent farmer living south of Hillsboro, committed suicide about one 60’ clock Saturday morning at the home of Charles Youngblood, by shooting himself in the head with a 32-caliber revolver. Death fol lowed in two hours after the shot was fired, the victim never re covering consciousness. The only witness to the deed was Miss Margaret Jackson, his sweetheart, with whom he had returned from the Veedersburg street fair. Miss Jackson is the daughter of Wm. Jackson, a farm er residing between this city and Veedersburg. She is well known in Covington, where she graduated from the high school a few years ago. Young Kerr and Donald Taylor, who live on adjoining farms, went to the Veedersburg street fair Friday evening, and here they met Miss Jackson and Dorothy Young blood. They drove home with them, and when they reached the house, Taylor and Miss Young blood went into the house leaving Kerr and Miss Jackson in the bug gy outside. They remained there for some time and when Taylor got ready to go he stepped out side and asked Kerr if he was yet ready to go. He answered that he was, and at thhe same time a re volver shot was heard, and Kerr fell to the ground. He was stand ing with one foot on the buggy step when the shot was fired and Taylor supposed he was helping Miss Jackson out of the buggy. They ran at once and picked the young man up and carried him into the house and summoned a doctor and Kerr’s parents. They all arrived within a short time, but nothing could be done for the poor fellow. He had a gaping wound in his temple and death re sulted in a few hours. The par ents were prostrated with grief. He was their only son, and the pride of their home. A disagreement over the love af fairs of the two young people is given as the cause of Kerr’s rash act. He and Miss Jackson had been going together for some time, and were regarded as lovers. Friends of the Kerr family as sert that he recently received a letter from Miss Jackson in which she intimated that she might take her own life, and it is said that shortly after Kerr shot himself she was prevented from taking a 3- ounce vial of carbolic acid from her suitcase. From the evidence which Miss Jackson gave before the Coroner, it was evident that a quarrel had taken place in the buggy shortly before the shooting. She said she saw Kerr on the night of Oc tober 19, and again on the night of October 20, and that they had been to Veedersburg and left that place at about 10-30 o'clock, p. m., and drove to the Youngblood res idence. When they arrived there they sat in the buggy for some time and continued their conversa tion. He had not, so far, she said, had any threat on his life, but what she told him it was best that they part. She said Kerr re plied that he would never give her up in this life. Their conversa tion continued a few minutes long er, and she said he asked her to kiss him good-bye. A second later he stepped out of the buggy drew his revolver and fired a shot into his brain. She said that there was no other person around when the shot was fired. Although it was not brought out in the testimony, it was learned that Miss Jackson did kiss Kerr when he asked her. Members of the Kerr family say that their son had told them that Miss Jackson had threatened to take carbolic acid. ‘They say, they found a let ter in his belongings, written by her, in which there was something akin to a prayer, and they take this to mean that she contemplat ed suicide. That Kerr was jealous seems to be without doubt, but why, knows. Arthur Kerr was one of the most nighly respected young men in any township, and was known as a young man of good morals. He had never been known to involve in trouble of any kind that would give grounds for taking his life. He was a graduate of the Huis boro High School in the year 1910, and a member of the Delta Epsilog Sigma, the local high school fra ternity. While in high school he was a member of the debating team and prominent in the high school literary society. Last year he attended Purdue University at LaFayette, and studied Agriculture it being the desire of the young man’s father, John Kerr, that his son take charge of the farm and conduct it. The funeral was held at Prairie Chapel, near the home of his fa ther. ‘After the Coroner held his inquest on Saturday at the home of Mr. Youngblood, the body was removed to the home of his father where many came to see the re mains on Sunday. The services were held at 10 o'clock Monday, conducted by Rev. Harry Davin. Interment was made at the ceme tery at Waynetown. Out of re spect to his memory, the Hills boro high school dismissed and attended the funeral in a body. no one
Newspaper Details
Covington Friend
Covington, Indiana, US
Fri, Oct 27, 1911
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Christine F.
USA 06 Jul 2026
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