Miami Union

June 29, 1911 

RANDALL, MRS. LAURA - All West Milton was shocked and stunned last Friday morning by the news that Mrs. Laura Randall, 63, one of the town's kindest and best liked women, had been found hanging in the woodshed at her home.  The terrible tragedy was first discovered by her nephew, Ray Newby, who has been clerking at the Pearson House but spent his nights with his aunt.  Thursday night he went home about 8 o'clock but not being able to find his aunt went back to the hotel and spent the night there.  Friday morning he again went to the house and not finding Mrs. Randall there went back to the wood shed and was horrified to see her body hanging there.  He summoned help and the cord by which she had hung herself from the round of a ladder one end of which crossed a joist of the shed was cut.  The coroner, Dr. Ullery, was summoned and after his examination the body was removed to the home of her sister, Mrs. H. M. Lair.  It is believed that Mrs. Randall committed the terrible act some time after eight o'clock Thursday evening.  Loneliness and worry over the departure last fall of her sister, Mrs. L. C. Newby to British Columbia and failing health are believed to have brought on despondency which eventually resulted in self-destruction.  She was inclined to be anxious over financial matters although she was in very comfortable circumstances.  Laura Mahala Yount was born April 29, 1848, on the Yount farm 2 miles south of West Milton.  She was the third of nine children born to Elam and Mary Kyle Yount: Ann, wife of Henry Lair, Samuel, Laura, Frederick, James, William, John and Belle, now Mrs. Lee Newby of Powell River, British Columbia, one other child dying in infancy.  She was married Oct. 10, 1888, to Johnathan Randall and was a faithful and loving wife caring for her husband very tenderly during months of _________________________ years ago.  When a young woman she united with the Christian church and was ever an ardent and steadfast member.  She was an active worker in the church and Sunday school.  The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the home of her sister, Mrs. Lair.

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