Ver Overton Obituary

VER OVERTON KILLS SELF


While his mind was in a be-clouded condition from being overheated while working on the farm, Ver Overton the 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Overton well known and highly respected citizens of near Exeter committed suicide Sunday morning, July 17, at about 1 a.m., near the home of Gus Tracey who resides about 3/4 mile southeast of the Horner school house, on the Farwell farm formerly known as the Richard Hudson farm.

Ver Overton attended the Band Concert in Cassville, Saturday night and accompanied Miss Cleta Tracey to her home after the concert in a one horse buggy. He told her he intended shooting himself and loaded a 38 calibre British Bull Dog Pistol in her presence. She it is said, attempted to persuade him from doing the deed and talked to him until about 1 a.m. when he bade her good-by and told her to listen for the report of the pistol. He drove his horse about 100 yards from the Tracey home, hitched the horse to a tree on road side, got out on the road and fired that awful shot. He placed the muzzle of the revolver against his head, about one inch back of his right ear and the bullet ranged to just back of left eye, where it lodged. The Tracey family went to him and immediately called Dr. Salyer who went and attended him, but could do nothing. His parents were mortified and arrived about three a.m., Loren Hodge taking them in his car. They took the remains home with them.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday at 4 p.m. at Exeter Baptist Church of which the deceased was a member, and a very large number of relatives and friends attended the services. Interment was made in Maplewood Cemetery at Exeter.

This is a very sad blow to Mr. and Mrs Overton and their son Porter, who were a happy family. Recently he had been working only as he felt like it, because he had been complaining of not feeling well and Dr. Searcey of Exeter, had been treating him, who says he was sick and was bordering on an attack of the slow fever.

In the hour of their great grief and sorrow Mr. Overton and family have the sympathy of all their acquaintances.

Ver was born June 1, 1904, on the Overton farm 1 1/4 miles out on Washburn road, and was 17 years, 1 month and 16 days old.


Submitted by Ted Roller from a scrapbook bought at the estate sale of Vivian Roller.