Stoner, Ira - 1908

Tragic Death Ends Life of Ira Stoner

The many friends and acquaintances of Ira Stoner were shocked to hear that he had committed suicide Wednesday afternoon at a boarding home in Wilksbarre by shooting himself through the heart.  Mr. Stoner is a son of Cicero W. Stoner Esq., of Baltimore street, and though he left here a number of years ago to take up business in Baltimore he is well remembered by his many friends and acquaintances here.  He was aged thirty two years.

Mr. Stoner had been working for the firm of Stainey & Company of Baltimore whose business Is the manufacture of cornstarch and other such preparations.  He had been working in Wilkesbarre for only a few weeks, soliciting for the goods of his firm.  On the afternoon in question he had gone with a friend to the house at which he was staying and after remaining for a short time this friend left.  No one saw Mr. Stoner alive after this.  He shut his door when left alone and soon afterwards a shot was heard.

The occupants of the house rushed to the place and found that the door was locked.  Police were quickly summoned and forced in the door.  They were horrified to find the body of the young man lying lifeless across the bed with the blood streaming from a bullet wound in his side and a revolver lying near by.

Mr. Stoner had shot himself through the heart and death was practically instantaneous.  The matter was at once taken in hand by the Wilkesbarre police and late Wednesday nght the relatives here and in Baltimore were notified of the tragic end of the young man.

Various motives are ascribed for the rash act.  One is that Mr. Stoner was despondent over ill health, and another that he had business troubles.  The real reason will probably never be known.

The body will not be brought to Gettysburg but will be taken to East Berlin to-day where it will be interred in the family plot beside hat of his mother and several other relatives.

Ira Stoner is survived by his father and step mother, Mr. and Mrs. Cicero W. Stoner, of this place; his wife and two children, of Baltimore; and one brother, Dr. Henry Stoner, also of Baltimore.
~ Adams County News, Gettysburg, PA, Saturday, November 28, 1908, Page 1, Column 1

You can visit the memorial page for Ira Stoner.