LOST LARGE SUM AND SUICIDES

J. J. THOMPSON OF JAMESTOWN SHOT HIMSELF THRU HEART AT WAVERLY HOTEL BECAUSE HE LOST THOUSANDS ON PATENT.

J. J. Thompson of Jamestown, N. D., killed himself at Room 14 of the Wavery hotel at 6:30 o'clock Friday, during a fit of despondency. He had locked the door, and holding a .38 calibre revolver to his breast, put a bullet thru {sp} his heart, dying almost instantly. The body fell against the door and with a thud struck the floor, the noise being heard by the housekeeper, who notified the proprietor, Reinhardt Reiersen. The door was broken open and the man was found dead, in a pool of blood. The remains were taken to an undertaker's and forwarded to Jamestown, where a wife and child reside.

Thompson came to Minot Jan. 11 and spent most of his time since at his room at the Waverly, occasionally going to the lobby. He represented the Jewell Nursery Co., and had been trying to sell a shipment of trees for the Normal school campus. It is said that he had been trying to put a patent on the market, in which he was unsuccessful, losing several thousand dollars. This, it is believed, caused his temporary insanity.

He was last seen alive at "Dad's Restaurant," an hour before killing himself, when he ate a hearty meal. Mr. Marsh says he acted like a demented man, severely upbraiding a number of prominent Minot citizens for fancied wrongs. He grew so abusive that the employes at the restaurant turned away. He went immediately to his room and committed the rash deed.

Mr. Thompson was about 50 years of age and a fine looking man and had always been regarded very highly by everyone who met him here.

Ward County Independent, 3/11/1915