, 1859-02-07
Suicide Of an OLD Citizen OF Coles
County.

From tie Charleston Ea1rler, February 81
Mr. Scantoo, q nan advanced in years, the
head Of lanllly, and for long time q citizen of
Charleston, committed suicide on Last Wednes-
day, abour cue O'Clock il the afternoon, IN the
hail Of the Corrt House, up s!airs. The tin.e
a1d place seen singular for the commission Of
such & deed. Wh-n discovered, he was hanE-
ing suspended at tho neck b7 q small cord at-
tacted to q ioist nhove his feet but q few inctes
from the fsor. He had drrvn up bench from
which ho had swung himself eft. The alarm
being given, largo crowd gathered in, the
rope was cut Immediately, and every eITo1t
made to resusci'ate life, which WIGS partially
suecessfu1, bu! about 10 O'Clock at night he
gasped his last He MAS about itty years old,
nnd lehves wife sud seyen children. When
wa do not thereby wish to heap disgrace on
those he leares behind, but to hold the picture
up to the gnza ot many who ought to take heed
from this so!emn warning.
Mr. Scranton was Al amiab1e and honest
man, and lad many Personal qualities which
drew to him fricads-he Was himself hla OWL
worst enemy.
The following is the copy Of manuscript
which VAS found in bis hat:
Cul1tEsTos. January 24th. 1e5a
write this to those that are most interested,
in order thet theT may know something hhout
the uhEs and wherefores. In the first place,
do not waat Ccroner's 1nqaest held over me,
may be asked why done it. / will 1asHer that
have ou:lived my friends. ! hare outlved
my means to support my wife and children,
even in the necessaries Of life. The causes are
various, and l.Woutd rot wish to nectlou them,
Is l Wish. the living to do the bes. they can in
this world That have bean in fault myRelf,
do not deny, nor would l imputa blame to
anY person living. therefore you all have my
test wishes. Whie write ibis, my tca:s are
foVing Tor those that aTe dear to me. 1t would
not be worth my while to say any thing here to
Charles, Ruth, Michael, Leroy, or George, anY
more Than they sse thrown upon the world, and
it they do not support themselves the world
will not do il for them.
Kha. little property have, Wish Louisiana
to have it, because know she will not put il 10
any improper use, bnt reques. that the children
be put out Immediately to trades. or Otherwise,
a. circumstances admit, because ahe and they
canno. support themselves. wish Ill the pro.
periy sold that che, Louisana, my wife, does
not Immediately want, the proceeds Of which
may assist her in aone future day. Little Tom,
our adopted boz, love, md it msy be better
than ny OWN cbildrsn, but l will not say 50. Jet
l hope some person will take him and do justice
By him, as he is bright child.
And now to conclude. have omitted many
things which would speak of. and it il proba-
bic had better not. l feel hurt with regard to
my oru connections,--the news Of my death
will overpoaer them, especially in ths way in
which it occurred.
And noZ. If have soul to bo saved or lost,
resign it to tbs power tnat gave it. in full con
idenco thnt he it, or they, will do jussice BY it.
L1stly. lore and respect mJ wife IA we'll
as any husband ought to do. l do not wish her
to think tha. / committed this &C: on her &C.
court, because want nothing for her to re.
proaeh herself with,
Tbs place have selected il, because do not
wish any member OF Eay family 10 be surprised,
nr4 %hnta 1Mn%
ler. may convey the sad inse!litfence to them.
l die in peace with all mankind, aud hops that
they will bury me in q rough hox, aud let me-
laY on my left side, With tho same clothes |
have Oh, and it it is possible, place my right
arm orer my forehead or head my wife will
know how s'eeptn general
This being my last, subscribe myself,
U. F. ScxANrox.
2. S.-The above can be made public OF not,
IS my wife may shick proper.