Sam LaRue committed suicide by shooting himself with a 45-calibre revolver in the Burlington yards here Tuesday morning about 6:15 o’clock. The deed was witnessed by a number of people standing about the depot, as LaRue took his life shortly before the arrival of passenger train No. 9 and in plain sight of the depot, the spot chosen for his act being only about fifty yards east of the station.

LaRue’s home is at Ingham, Neb. and he is probably thirty years of age and unmarried. He came to Holdrege last Saturday night with two car loads of cattle enroute to the Omaha market. He remained here over night and intended to leave on No. 2 for Omaha Sunday morning. He telephoned to C. L. Dunham, who was an old acquaintance, that he had missed his train and that he wanted to get someone to take him back to Farnam by automobile. Mr. Dunham came down town to see LaRue but was unable to find him and presumed correctly that he had taken train No. 12 which leaves at 10 o’clock for Omaha.

He returned from Omaha Monday night and spent the night in the station here. Nothing unusual in his behavior was noticed by the employees about the depot except that he appeared restless and to be worried over something. Shortly after six o’clock he walked to a point in the middle of the tracks just east of the depot, drew his gun from a holster and commenced firing at his head. The first shot went wild, the second grazed the temple. He then fell upon his knees and turned the gun to point directly downward on the top of his head. This shot crashed through the skull and into his brain killing him instantly.

A number of persons about the depot rushed to his side and Dr. Palmer was sent for, but was powerless to do anything for him. The body was taken to the C. A. Baker undertaking rooms and the man’s relatives at Ingham notified by telephone of the tragedy.

Sam LaRue lived with his mother and a number of sisters on a ranch close to Ingham. He was engaged in the stock raising business. He is said, by those of this city who knew him, to be a quiet man of sound mind, good habits, and a pretty shrewd business man. His brother. Steve LaRue, with whom Mr. Dunham talked by telephone, said he could think of no motive for the deed. His brother had been somewhat behind with his farm work, but financially he was in nice shape and had nothing to worry him of a serious nature. Another stockman who was with LaRue at Omaha and returned with him to Holdrege said that he drank nothing during his stay there, but appeared restless on the train and would walk up and down the aisle of the car as though in some mental distress.

Messrs. S. F. and W. G. Parker of Farnam came down Tuesday night to accompany the remains of LaRue to his home. These gentlemen though closely associated with the man could suggest no motive for the act.

The most rational explanation yet suggested is that LaRue was mentally unbalanced as a result of over–work and worry about his affairs. He is said to have lost heavily this spring from storms which killed large numbers of sheep on the LaRue range. He was also administrator of his father’s estate. The mental strain from these duties had weighed heavily on him and he had planned a month’s vacation to be spent in Colorado soon. He stated before leaving Ingham that he disliked to take the trip to Omaha alone and it would seem that he himself was worried over his physical and mental condition.

The body was shipped to Ingham yesterday morning.

The Holdrege Progress 23(21):1 Thursday, July 22, 1909