"ELZA BOTTOMLEY"

Joseph Bottomly, who is employed by the Barnes Manufacturing Company at it's works near the water works pumping station, was called to his home at Bellville Monday morning by the news that his son had met death by his own hand. The boy's name is ELZA BOTTOMLY and he is about 16 years of age. Elza Bottomly and a brother were playing checkers Sunday afternoon, and a dispute arose regarding the game. Young Bottomly left the house soon after and did not return. His absence created no alarm as it was thought he had gone to the house of a neighbor to spend the night. Monday morning his body was found hanging by the neck to a three-quarter inch rope attached to a beam in the mow of the barn. Life was, of course, extinct, and had been for some time. Coroner Baughman and the father, Joseph Bottomly, were at once notified by telephone and left for Bellville. No cause is known for the rash act, and the affair will no doubt always be shrouded in mystery. Joseph Bottomly formerly resided in this city. Later in the same paper, additional information about this death was given as follows: Coroner Baughman held an inquest Monday morning to inquire into the causes which led to the suicide of Elza Bottomly. The coroner examined Joseph and Margaret Bottomly, the father and mother, Leroy Bottomly, the brother, and Wade Stewart, the boy with whom the deceased had been playing a game. All that was brought out by the testimony was that a dispute arose over a game of checkers, after which Elza left the house in anger. Nothing more was seen of the lad and Monday morning his lifeless body was found hanging from a beam in the mow of the barn. The coroner found that the boy had come to his death by suicide, but the cause which lead to the act the coroner was unable to ascertain. The coroner gives it as his opinion that the boy did not intend suicide, but merely intended to scare the boys, whom he expected would soon come to the barn as it was about time to feed the stock. The rope was so arranged that, when he stepped off of the hay, by catching hold of the other end of the rope, he could draw himself up, and prevent the rope around his neck from becoming taught. It is thought that when he stepped from the hay he went down farther than he anticipated and the knot in the rope tightened so quickly that he was unable to save himself. The act was done, it is thought, shortly after leaving the house, as ice had formed in the mouth and the body was cold and stiff when it was cut down at 8 o'clock Monday morning. The boy was 14 years and nine months old. Bottomly is probably the youngest victim that ever died by his own hand in this county.

(RICHLAND SHIELD & BANNER: 21 March 1896, Vol. LXXVIII, No. 45)

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Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962 about Joseph E. Bottomly
Name: Joseph E. Bottomly
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Place: Mansfield, Richland, Ohio
Birth Date: 10 Sep 1881
Christening Place: Richland, Ohio
Father's Name: Joseph Bottomly
Mother's Name: Margaretta Robinson