Peter Joshua "Pete" Morton

© Cheyenne Star

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Peter Joshua "Pete" Morton who resided less than a half mile south of Herring, eight miles east of Cheyenne, slashed his throat with a razor at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning March 25, 1931 which resulted in almost instant death.

Mr. Morton had been in ill health for a number of years having suffered from chronic appendicitis. Last Friday, he thought he was taking the smallpox and went to bed. Wednesday morning was the first time that he had been out of the house since he took sick Friday.

Elzie, his oldest son, was also feeling bad and it was thought that he was taking down with the smallpox. However, he had dressed that morning but did not feel like leaving the house.

At the time of the tragedy, Mrs. Morton was in the back yard preparing water with which to do the family washing. Herbert, another son, was in the field plowing and a smaller boy was in bed suffering from the toothache, while the other members of the family were in the front part of the house.

Mr. Morton went through the house to the back yard on an errand and came back into the house and went into the boy's bedroom where the boys kept their shaving equipment. Elzie who was in the front part of the house, heard a noise but thought that it was his father killing a stray dog that had been breaking up setting hens. About the same time Mrs. Morton was attacted by a dog rearing up in a window in the boys room. She came to the house and as she entered the door the small boy who was in a room near the boys bed room cried out, "Look in there". Mrs. Morton looked and saw her husband lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

She called Elzie who came to her aid and lifted his father on one of the beds where he expired in a few seconds.

Officers and Dr. Cross were summoned. Justice Leach, Undersheriff Claude Roper and County Attorney Mouser went to the Morton home where an inquest was held.

Six farmers and business men composed the coroner's jury which returned a verdict to the effect that P. J. Morton died from having his throat cut with a razor wound self inflicted.

Mr. Morton left a widow and six children, five boys and one girl. The oldest 24 years old and the youngest 9 years old.

The only reason that could be attributed to the rash act was that of poor health.

According to members of the family, Mr. Morton had no financial difficulties that would justify any serious worry and nothing had transpired in the way of trouble in the family or with neighbors. Members of the family stated that nothing unusual in his action had been detected by any of the family. It is supposed that he suddenly became demented and seized with the impulse that his ills were too great decided to end his life.

Burial in Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon.

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