Arthur T. Woods
Arthur Woods Commits Suicide
Arthur Woods, a young man of seventeen, who came to Lusk but a short time ago from Wichita, Kan., was found dead in the auditorium of the Strand theatre Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. When found he hung suspended by a small quarter-inch rope looped over one of the supporting beams near the ceiling, his feet all but touching the floor. Directly behind him was a chair which he had evidently used to stand on while adjusting the rope,and leaning against the wall was found the stepladder used in looping the rope over the beam.
About seven last evening, Trajan Shipley, the operator, went to the theatre and found the doors locked. He immediately began to inquire for Woods who was employed by the management as pianist and also acted as janitor and looked after the films. Upon calling the residence he found that Woods had left about two in the afternoon and had not yet returned for supper. Consequently as no means was available for obtaining entrance to the theatre the lock was broken and Mr. Shipley went into the darkened hall and directly to the booth to turn on the lights, not at first seeing the dangling body. However, one boy who followed the operator into the theatre immediately discovered the lifeless form and as soon as the light came on notified Mr. Shipley, and as soon as he realized what had happened summoned assistance at once. Physicians pronounced him dead and he was immediately taken to the undertaking rooms where a coroner's inquest was held, the jury returned a verdict of suicide.
No one seems able to offer any reason for the self-inflicted death, as the boy seemed to be of a cheerful disposition.