L.C. Yow, Forced into New Marriage, Commits Suicide on First Wife's Grave, July 17, 1925

L.C. Yow Kills Himself at First Wife’s Grave

Albemarle Press

Lonnie C. Yow of Stanfield, aged 25, was found yesterday morning about 5 o’clock with his head lying on the grave of his dead wife, and a gunshot wound through his heart. Indications point to suicide, under investigations made by Coroner T. Finch Morgan.

Yow was married to Letha Hartsell just a few days ago. Circumstances bringing about the marriage were such that Yow is alleged to have been forced into a marital contract to which he was an unwilling party and a victim. He protested his innocence of things charged against him, and close acquaintances say that this is back of the suicidal act.

The coroner’s jury rendered a verdict that the deceased came to his death from a gunshot from his own hand.

The young man’s father is quoted as saying that when officers served papers on his son Monday and forced him into the marriage without hearing or chance to give bond or even defend himself, that his son got mad. And the father thinks this is the cause of the suicide.

The Stanfield correspondent of The Tribune and Times sends the following account of the suicide:

Alonzo Yow, who lived with his father, E.M. Yow, near Love’s Grove Church, committed suicide Wednesday morning by shooting himself through the heart, but his wife’s grave at that place. He lived only a few moments. The home is only a short distance from the graveyard, and his father heard the shot and not finding his son in the house, he rushed to the graveyard to find him breathing his last and his body lying across his wife’s grave. He had married another woman on Monday before killing himself. It seems that he was in great trouble and his mind had become unbalanced.

His family are heartbroken, and it was a heart-rending scene to see his little 20-months-old son call for his daddy. Lon had many friends who are grieved over his death.

Rev. Ridenhour conducted the funeral services, and his body was laid beside that of his wife.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, July 17, 1925

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