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Idaho County Free Press - Friday, May 10, 1889 |
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A Shocking Suicide
**Note very graphic description, please use your own discretion**
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Word was received here last
Friday that Homer F. Gould had suicided at his brother's place on John Day
creek. Coroner Bibby hastened down and held an inquisition on the
body, from which we glean that the deceased had been somewhat despondent
of late, and was fearful of getting involved in financial
difficulties. On Thursday morning last he arose very early, loaded a
double-barreled shot-gun, stood the stock on the ground, placed his head
over the muzzle and touched the trigger off with the ramrod. The
coroner says he never saw a more ghastly sight, for the top of the head
was completely shot away, and fragments of the skull were found a hundred
yards away, showing that the gun must have been charged to the
muzzle. He left a letter addressed to his wife, stating in effect
that financial difficulties prompted the deed, but it does not appear that
he was in financial distress. On the contrary, he was doing very
well and would have done better in time, but he was evidently morbid on
the subject of rapidly acquiring wealth in the western country, and not
succeeding in his expectations gave way to despair. He arrived here
from Iowa last summer with his wife, a most estimable lady, and two bright
little boys, to whom the sympathy of the entire community is extended in
this hour of awful calamity which has overtaken them. Mr. Gould had
recently purchased the Bear Pete ranch and intended moving his family
there shortly. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while in a
state of temporary insanity. |
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