Get More Light on Tragedy in Mt. Airy. . . James Duncan, Who Shot and Killed Himself, Seemed to be Mentally Deranged
Mount Airy, April 19—Bits of information picked up here and there since the shocking tragedy here Saturday night in which Mrs. Janie Duncan was seriously shot by her husband, Jimmie Duncan, who took his own life, at the home of John D. Kluttz, the father of Mrs. Duncan, seem to establish the fact that the young man was not only physically sick but was mentally deranged.
It was learned here today that a neighbor of the Duncans, a woman living in South Brownsville, Pa., had advised Mrs. Duncan to come to her father’s home in Mt. Airy because she feared for the safety of the young wife and the children.
It is also reported that the same neighbor wrote a letter to the young wife since she came here in which she warned her of danger in case Duncan should come to Mount Airy and cautioned her to be on her guard.
A bottle of paregoric was found in one of the dead man’s pockets, which may indicate that he was taking dope. He also stated to a friend here that he had to take morphine tablets in order to be able to sleep.
Chief of Police R.E. Lawrence has a letter which was taken from the young man’s clothing after the tragedy which is supposed to be addressed to the people for whom he worked and which he evidently neglected to mail. The letter is written on the stationery of the Guilford Hotel, Greensboro, and is as follows:
Monday evening 9 p.m.
Dear George and Mr. B-----:
Just arrived here and missed train to Mount Airy by about 10 minutes, so that means at 12 tomorrow I will appear on the battle front in Mount Airy against the German army.
The enemy having captured my fountain pen compels me to use a pencil or walk for a pen—so you can see I am saving my energy for tomorrow. I feel fine and am sleepy for the first time in several days. Let me hear from you and tell Dr. Reitter to send me the message that he told me to drop in for.
Respectfully,
James Duncan
The letter was in pencil and was not in an envelope.
Among his effects was another letter addressed to him from Joseph Hega company, Chicago, a house that deals in watches and diamonds. The letter was an acknowledgement for a shipment of jewelry of some kind and also answered an inquiry in regard to a one-half carat diamond ring and mounting which he was evidently intending to purchase. The price quoted was 4290 but stated that diamonds could be furnished at almost any price desired. These incidents seem to furnish an explanation for the tragedy, and point unmistakably to a serious mental derangement as the cause of this shocking episode which cause a shadow over this city and brought deep sorrow to the home s of the principals.
Mrs. Duncan is still living and some hope is entertained for her recovery.
From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, April 20, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-20/ed-1/seq-1/
