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Show SENT WIFE FROM HOME. Illinois Official Then Lay Down on Lounge nnd Shot Himself. BLOOMINGTON, HI,, Oct. 23. A tremendous tre-mendous sensation was created here when Matthew R. Cunningham, County Recorder, Record-er, committed suicide. He wont to h's home shortly after noon, and. sending his wife, tho only other . occupant of the house, to a neighbor's with a request ihat hhc send for Ills con, Dr. Cunningham, ho lay down upon a loungo and, securing a revolver, blow our his brains. His wife, who soon returned, was completely prostrated pros-trated by the ghastly sight. Recorder Cunningham was completing his first term of four years, and bis successor suc-cessor will assume office Dcccmbor 1. By a curious coincidence, his successor Is tho present Coroner, N. B. Cnr3on, who conducted con-ducted the Inquest. It has been known for several years that the accounts of tho Recorder were in a tangled condition. Hi. dismissed a deputy a year ago to mako a place for his wife, and the deputy released re-leased hart been making serious allegations allega-tions concerning the condition of the books. Tho grand Jury lock action and also the Bo&rd of Supervisors. A committee ot tho latter was appointed und moilo an examination ex-amination of the accounts, but matters wore adJUHti-d for the time being. A few months ago it was alleged that he was about $500 short In his accounts, which 1 is bondsmen agreed to make ejood. The bondsmen had been making an investigation investiga-tion recently, nnd had made an appointment appoint-ment to meet him at 4 o'clock for a settlement. set-tlement. Ills exnet shortage, If any, will not be known until a further Investigation of tho books Is made. Tho Recorder was a soldier of tho Civil war, and his record wns a snllaut one. Ho was 60 years of nge. A son, Edward, Is a traveling agent for tho Santa Fo railway. Another Is a physician :n this city. |