Allen, Henry

Passed:

Age:

Source: Mountaineer

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1915-04-16

Information: KILLS LITTLE SON AND ENDS OWN LIFE - Poverty, despondency and a hallucination that he was doomed to die, unbalanced the mind of Henry Allen, who after shooting his small son, Finley, age five years, placed the gun over his heart and touched the trigger, ending his own life in a humble home on Mud Run Monday morning.  The bodies with holes through the breasts, were found by the boy's brother when he went to their room to awaken them.      A note addressed to W. L. Wright, a neighbor, in which he explained he was going to end his troubles, indicated that he had a hallucination that he and fourteen others were sentenced to be executed on the 17th by the ""Adjusting Company"" was found in the room.  Rather than leave his little boy to the mercies of the world he decided that they should die together.  He requested that his two other boys, ages 13 and 15, be sent to some friends in Doddridge county.      Allen and his three sons retired about nine o'clock Sunday night.  As there was no lamp in the room occupied by the father and little boy, it is probable that the shots were fired after daylight. Both were shot through the heart and died instantly.  The bodies were in the bed with a muzzle loading rifle between them when found by Coroner Boggess and Drs. Curry and Noyes who were called and made an investigation.  No inquest was held.      Allen, who was about 60 years of age, and a cripple, formerly lived in Doddridge county.  With his family he moved to this county about ten or twelve years ago.  Following domestic trouble two years over which he is said to have become despondent, his wife left home.  He was a hard worker and had made a brave effort to keep his children together.  A pitiful condition confronted the coroner, doctors and neighbors who were summoned.  A few cold biscuits were the only evidence of food in the house.  Allen's mother was murdered in Doddridge county several years ago.