Obits of Dr. Ernest FRANKLIN (b.1870) and Mrs. FRANKLIN (b.1885), Faribault Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Sheri Wheeler This obit is: Ernest Franklin and Wife, Dr. A. James Franklin's brother: COUNTY CLERK AND WIFE DIE TOGETHER: Leaves Note Explaining Illness Can No Longer Be Endured. Choose Monoxide Gas. Word that County Clerk Ernest F. Franklin and wife committed suicide came as a terrible shock Monday morning to all of the people who knew them. Their bodies had been found locked in each others arms in a car in a grove about three miles south and west of Blue Earth shortly after 8 o'clock that morning, death being due to monoxide gas which had carefully been piped into the car with a tube. Apparently the suicides had been planned for some time as a device had been arranged in the car where the tube was inserted to prevent the car from catching fire. A few days prior, Mr. Franklin had had the muffler of the car examined to guard against leaks. People who knew Mr. and Mrs. Franklin best will shroud their deaths with charity and sympathy believing that illness from which there was no recovery, so weakened their resistance that death together appeared to be the only solution. A note addressed to Mrs. Franklin's son by a former marriage, Douglas Pluser, led to the discovery of the bodies. It read: "We can no longer endure the misery and suffering. We will be found in the car about one mile southwest of Blees's house. See Dr. Wilson, coroner, and call Mrs. Burke for Leila. Call Wayne Conings for Ernie. Notify Floyd Franklin, Elmore; Ed Gilson of S. A. Wise, Elmore; Judge Haycraft, Fairmont. Dad. Other letters in safe." On the reverse side of the note was the notation: "Call W. G. Sinn, Henry Frundt." The note was found by the maid in the Franklin home at 8 A.M. The maid had been out Sunday evening and returned home about 11 o'clock. Believing that Mr. and Mrs. Franklin were in bed, she was careful not to make a noise that might disturb them. When she arose Monday morning to begin her daily duties, she discovered that the Franklins were not at home and had not occupied their room during the night. She then found the note and telephoned Douglas Pluser, who immediately went to the home and after reading it, he notified the coroner. The two men then followed the directions given in the note, where they found the bodies in the locked car. A note found with the bodies, addressed to Dr. Wilson, stated that the act was mutual on the part of both. Mrs. Franklin had been in poor health for two years and during the past six months she had been cared for at the state hospital in St. Peter. Mr. Franklin had visited her there frequently and at intervals had brought her home hoping that her condition would improve. Last Friday she had been brought home by her son Douglas, at her request. Mr. Franklin's health had become impaired by worry over the illness of his wife and the constant care he had given her in the past two years. He had been away from his office for a year or more. The couple were greatly devoted to each other. Mrs. Franklin was born April 6, 1885. She is survived by her son Douglas, of Blue Earth, and a daughter, Joyce Pluser, of Minneapolis. Ernest F. Franklin was born in Verona township, Faribault county, July 18, 1870, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Franklin. He graduated from the Blue Earth high school and continued his education as a chemist, graduating from the Drew Institute of Pharmacy of Minneapolis. He united in marriage with Ida Merrill, of Jo Davies township, who died in 1924. In 1927 he married Mrs. Leila Woodle Pluser. One son, Reade Merrill Franklin, died October 10, 1918, while he was in service in the aviation department. In his early life Mr. Franklin taught in the rural schools and operated a farm. He moved to Blue Earth in 1895 and joined his brother in the drug store business. He continued as a pharmacist until the store changed hands and he went to Iowa to work wit the Interstate Drainage company. Returning to Minnesota in 1915 he started in the automobile business in Blue Earth, but sold out in 1915. He was elected clerk of court in 1932 and held that office until the time of his death. Funeral services will be held at the Franklin home Thursday at 1:30 P.M., followed by a service at 2 P.M. at the Methodist church at Blue Earth. Burial will be in the Riverside cemetery at Blue Earth. Judge Haycraft announced Monday morning that he had appointed Mrs. Douglas Pluser (Mary L. Pluser) as clerk of court to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Franklin. Mrs. Pluser had been deputy clerk for several years, serving during Mr. Franklin's absence. The appointment to the office of clerk was necessary immediately upon the death of Mr. Franklin so that the office could continue operation without interruption. (I did not abstract this article because the circumstances surrounding the obit are so well laid that I believed it best to leave the article "in-tact".)