Robert E McFarlane

Kansan, Wenesday, March 28, 1923.

Robert McFarlane, 38 years old, well known stockman and farmer, committed suicide this morning about 9:30 at his home one mile west of Newton on First street, by shooting himself through the head, using a .45 calibre revolver. He apparently died instantly. The large bullet entered the right side of head near the temple and ranged upward, passing through his head and through the top of a door, the hole in the door being a few inches more than six feet from the floor.

It is known that Mr. McFarlane had been having some financial difficulties and that he had been worried a great deal on that score lately, even having been heard to declare that he was almost determined to give up the struggle and end it all. It was stated by relatives, however, that in all probability his affairs were really not in so serious conditions as he evidently thought.

McFarlane returned this morning from Kansas City on an early train, where he had accompanied a shipment of cattle which was sold on the Tuesday market. It was thought likely, though the exact facts could not be learned, that he might have met loss on this shipment. He arrived home quite early and went to bed, and it was thought by Mrs. McFarlane that he slept a short while. He arose, however, sooner than he should have done normally, after losing a night rest, and seemed disturbed. After the children had gone to school, he grew more depressed, and instead of lying down again as his wife suggested, he started to go into an adjoining room off from the kitchen, where he had left his grip, and were a table stood in the drawer of which Mrs. McFarlane knew the revolver was kept. Her fears being aroused she started to follow, but he evidently held the door shut, as she was unable to open it. Thoroughly frightened then, she called Phillip Huffman, the hired man, who was at the barn. Before Huffman reached the house, they heard the report of the revolver. Entering the room they found Mr. McFarlane lying across the doorway a few feet from the wall, his head in a pool of blood, and death settling upon his body.

Corner L. t. Smith and Dr. F. L. Abbey, who for years has been the family physician, were immediately summoned, and the brothers of the dead man were called. Facts relative to the suicide were so clear that there was nothing officially to be done. The Sprinker-Carter ambulance was summoned, and the body brought to undertaking establishment.

It was clear evident that McFarlane, after definitely making up his mind to kill himself, deliberately went into the room and secured the revolver, then walked back to the door, holding it securely shut with his left hand, standing sidwise to the door,and fired the revolver with his right hand. His height,the position of the wound where the bullet entered his head and the range upward to where it passed through the door shows that to have been the manner in which the shooting was done.

Mr. McFarlane was born in Harvey county. He was the son of Duncan McFarlane, who resides northwest of Newton. Besides his father, the deceased leaves his wife and eight children, six little girls and two boys. He also leaves three brothers and three sisters as follows: Walter, Albert and Edgar, Mrs. Charles Dillman, Mrs Will Winslow and Mrs. P. F. Beck, the latter making her home with the father. All reside in the vicinity northwest of Newton. The mother is dead.

The entire family has been highly respected residents of Harvey county for many years, Duncan McFarlane being one of the early settlers. Robert a few years ago was counted among the most promising, prosperous farmers and stockmen of the county. Unfortunate dealings in the live stock in recent years seemed to set his affairs awry, and with the cares of providing adequately for his large family of children had been a source of discouragement which culminated in the deplorable act of this morning.

The McFarlane home is on the D. R. Seifkin farm one mile west of Newton on First street, to which place they moved last fall. Mrs. McFarlane was formerly Miss Mary White, well known to many warm friends who sorrowfully mourn with her in her dark hour of distress. She is the daughter of Jacob White, who resides near Hesston.