In a shocking turn of events, John Cook, a resident of Massac County, Illinois, made a desperate attempt to end his life. On an unknown date in 1916, Cook shot himself through the throat, but the wound proved non-fatal. In a stark display of desperation, Cook crawled into a nearby straw stack and set it ablaze, leaving behind a trail of destruction and unanswered questions. The motives behind Cook’s actions remain unclear, but one thing is certain – his fate was forever sealed in that ill-fated straw stack.
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Key Facts
- State: IL
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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