The Hickman courier., 1868-06-13
suiclde or ,raI. "a. n. Aieaandef,

that on Monday ulSnt last MalOr L. u
Alexander, one of the oldest and most
worthy citizens of this county, commit
ted suicide By drowning himself in the
Mississippi river. This was the third
time during the past year that Major
Alexander had sought to destroy his
life in this way. The first time was
from the wharf boat at this place, when
he was recovered By friends and no one
then suspicioncd but that he bad fallen
into the river by ACCIDENT Some months
after this, he again made the attempt
at which t.Rs-hs had tied iron weiEl
20 ;nsure the sssHi
rescued by friends. He then made
statement to this effect That TIE FIRST
time he fell into the river was by scci-
deu;, but that he experienced enough at
that time to satisfy himself that drown
ing was The easiest mode of death; that
he WIS old and weary of life of no bene-
fit TO himself or family that he was suf-
fering severely from wounds which he
received in the Mexican war, and that
the older be grew the worse his wounds
became and that il was To rid himself
of his useless aud helpless old age, that
he had sought to destroy his life. Since
that time, which was some months ago,
his family and friends had all become
satisfied that he was entirely dissuaded
from the idea. Ia the meantime he had
been to town several times, transacted
business, and returned to his home in
safety On Monday last he was in town
during all the day, conyersing with yari-
Gus gentlemen, but nothing wrong in his
manner was observable, further than he
Us scen upon-<4
about dark, aud was understood to-
preparing 70 go home. AT night he
committed the fata%sct At 10 o'clock
his friends became uneasy, and COM
menced search for him, when his coat,
hat, and spectaeles, were found in skiff,
| Just behind Robinson 4 Keith's old
warehouse On Tuesday morning, par
ties commenced fishing with hooks for
the body, and it was found about one
hundred yards below the skiff. He had
cord ten or fifteen feet long tied round
his neck, aud to the end Of the cord
large iron bolt weighing i've or six
pounds
The deceased was about Gs years old ;
was strictly temperate, hospitable and
worthy citizens, and was highly respect
ed by ALL He was born aud raised in
Sumner county, Tenn, and emigrated to
Kentucky in 1851. He was soldier in
the Florida war, aud also during the
Mexican campaigns. In the latter war
he was a Major in the 1st Tennessee
Infantry, known in history as the
" Bloody First" of which Gov. Nm. B.
c4npOell, The Colonel. tn tllis war
lie received severe wound, Irum the eT-
feets of which he never entirely recov-
cred, and the long continued suffering
from il was nc doubt the immediate
cause Of his rash act In 1854 ), We
think it was, Major Alexander represent
ed this and Hickman county in our State
Legislature, standing high in that body,
and rejecting much credit upon himself
and his constituents. During our civil
war he was too old and feeble to take
any part in the conflict, but was de-
voted friend of the Lost Cause, and
as consequence had most of his prop
erty destroyed aud taken from him. Du-
ring the late years he has had much
trouble, but his relation with all sur
rounding was most pleasant and agree
able.
Iuthe death Of Major Alexander our
people have lost a valued citizen-one
who has spent much of his life for the
good of his country and people, and one
who was greatly respected by his neigh
bors and our citizens generally. Truly.
may il be said of him. that he lived " al
in <haacSHAEe his family and rel1l
Next Week we-snfil -5ttDiisl4 siesssl
fs Maj. Alexander's life, prepared by
one intimately acquainted with his his
tory.
hILLEp.--A man by the name of Ma
tiianieiSSweenegsa citizen of this county,