Frank Rutledge

Frank Rutledge, 40, Former Restaurant Proprietor of Lusk, Commits Suicide at Home in Dubois Country Last Sunday

Frank Rutledge, 40 years old, formerly restaurant operator at Lusk, but more recently hunting lodge and operator and camp cook in the Dubois country, committed suicide last Sunday night, April 18, at his home near Dubois.

Rutledge operated the XL restaurant in Lusk until about five years ago, when he went to the Dubois country and operated a small ranch and hunting lodge, acting as guide and cook for big game hunters.

Previous to that he had worked at the Wolfe ranch and other ranches in the neighborhood of Lusk. Rutledge was alone in his home at the time of the shooting. He had been to Casper Saturday with friends and returned early Sunday morning. When he returned from Casper, it is said that he had threatened to kill his wife and 13-year-old son, and it is presumed that they went to a neighbors' house for the night.

Rutledge bought a gun at a second-hand store in Casper Saturday, which he used in ending his life. While investigating the suicide, County Attorney Harry Harnsberger discovered that the gun with which Rutledge killed himself was stolen from his car about a year ago, The thief had apparently sold it to the second-hand store, where Rutledge bought it.

Rutledge was cooking for a road outfit, after quitting the hunting lodge business. A coroners; jury returned a verdict of suicide, after a hearing.

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