KIZER, SR., John Donald

Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, May 22, 1950, page 1, column 1 John D. Kizer, 67, Shoots Himself With Small Gun John D. Kiser, 67, was in critical condition at Community hospital this afternoon after an attempted suicide at 9 a.m. today at his home. A late report from hospital authorities said that he is not expected to live. Kiser shot himself once through the forehead with a .22 calibre rifle in the bedroom of his residence at 217 N. Pleasant street, according to a report by city police. His wife, who discovered Kizer on the floor of the room shortly after the shooting, told police that the victim had gone into the bedroom shortly after breakfast with her. The sound of the shot followed. Mrs. Kizer, who said she first thought the sound of the gun to be a screen door slamming, investigated a few minutes later when no other sound issued from that part of the house. She immediately notified her son, John D. Kiser, Jr., 304 S. Montezuma street, and Yavapai county sheriff's deputies, who summoned Assistant Police Chief Oscar Johnson. Kizer was removed to the hospital in a Ruffner ambulance. the physician who examined Kizer at the scene, said the bullet lodged in the cranium. A retired Santa Fe railroad engineer, Kizer was said to have been despondent over business matters and had several times threatened suicide. Mrs. Kizer told police that he 'had been nervous for a couple of weeks.' Transcriber's note: Mr. Kizer is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona.