“During the summer months, Alexander has been sleeping in the stable in the tear of his home. His wife chose the comforts of the environments of the bedroom in the dwelling. Arising from his bed at an unusually early hour, Alexander walked into the house. Without arousing his wife, Rachel Alexander, took his rifle from a rack on which it has rested for years, then deliberately made preparations for the taking of his own life, and pulled the trigger.”
“Startled from her sleep as the shot rang ominously through the house, Mrs. Alexander was terror stricken when she awakened to see her husband lying on the floor, with blood streaming profusely from a gaping wound in the forehead, just above the right eye. Seized with terror she rushed to the home of Charles Brown, a short distance away on the Harrisonville pike, to summon aid. Members of the Brown household responded and returned with her to her home. On their arrival they found Alexander still alive, but he was barely breaking. Before the services of a physician could be summoned he succumbed to the ravages of the self-inflicted bullet, an hour after the shooting.”
Worried Over Ill Health
“For the past several years Alexander has been engaged in the butchering business, driving a meat wagon between Harrisonville and Portsmouth. He lived with his wife on the little farm located on the pike between Harrisonville and Stockdale. For the past several months the victim’s worry over his continued ill health has been plainly noticeable. He appeared morose and indifferent but has never threatened the rash act which he committed before daylight Saturday morning.”
“Due to the shock sustained by the events of the night, Mrs. Alexander is in critical condition. Owing to her advanced age her temporary mental aberration it is feared, may prove fatal.”
“Besides his wife, James Alexander is survived by two brothers John, of Madison township, George, residing in the west.”1
Ohio Certificate of Death for James Alexander2
Alexander Funeral
“Simplicity marked the last rites over James Alexander, the Harrisonville butcher, who committed suicide Saturday morning by firing a bullet through his brain. A neighbor, RW Allard3, read an appropropriate scripture from the Bible and the friends in attendance sang ‘Rock of Ages’ as a parting tribute to the dead man. From the home, the remains were conveyed to the Alexander cemetery and interred.”
“During the services Mrs. Alexander, wife of the victim, lay in her room upstairs, sobbing hysterically. Her condition was such as not to permit her to attend the funeral. Monday morning she was only slightly improved.”4
Suicide’s Wife to Infirmary
“Infirmary directors are in possession of a warrant authorizing an investigation of the condition of Mrs. James Alexander, wife of the Harrisonville butcher who commited suicide Saturday, with the view of ordering her committed to the infirmary. Friends of the woman fear that she will do herself harm if left alone to worry over her husband’s tragic death.”5
Suicide’s Wife is Adjudged Insane
“An inquest conducted by Judge TC Beatty at the county infirmary Monday night, resulted in Mrs. Rachel Alexander, of Harrisonville, being adjudged insane. She will be taken to the state asylum at Athens, Wednesday.”
“Mrs. Alexander, in feeble health previous to the time of the tragic death of her husband, who took his own life, brooded over his death until her mind became unbalanced.”6
Taken to Asylum
“Superintendent John Hall, of the county infirmary, accompanied by Mrs. Hall, left Wednesday morning with Mrs. Rachel Alexander to place her in the state asylum of the insane at Athens. Mrs. Alexander is the widow of the late James Alexander.”7
- Fire a bullet into head, dies in hour. (1912a, September 14). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 12.
- “Mahoning, Ohio, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-67BS-6CZ?view=explore : Jun 24, 2024), image 1020 of 3302; Ohio Historical Society (Columbus, Ohio).
- Royal William Allard
- Alexander funeral. (1912b, September 16). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 9.
- Suicides wife to infirmary. (1912c, September 17). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 7.
- Suicide’s wife is adjudged insane. (1912, September 28). Portsmouth Times, p. 3.
- Taken to asylum. (1912d, September 28). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 2.
