Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-03
A SUICIDAL SHOT.



Al 6 O'Clock yesterday morning. Aelzar
Edwards committed suicide by shooting
himself through the head, holding the pis-
toll against his right temple while he pulled
the trigger and sent ball crashing through
his brain.
Mr.. Edwards was well known in this
section, having been proprietor of Bells
Exchange, some twenty years ago, and
was Afterwards connected with the Sewanee
House. He moved to Cheatham county
several years ago, and thence to Spring
field. Six months ago, he bought a lot on
North Spruce street, near Jefferson, and be-
gan the erection of a neat and comfortable
home, the WORK being done under the SUI
pervision of DR.. Stout, of this city. This
house was finished some ten days since,
and week ago last Saturday was occupied
by Mr. Edwards and his family, consisting
Of wife and five children, four of whom
are daughters, the eldest being about
twenty years Of age.
Mr.. Edwards had BEEN suffering with
some nerSous disorder for nearly two
years, and up to the date of his removal
from Springfield, had not left his room for
fifteen months. During the time his house
was being built, he would send DR.. Stout
several letters each day, frequently getting
up in the night 10 write, and his instruc-
lions were sometimes of a very absurd and
conflicting character. Since getting into
his new house hs had beeA ysFE desEord-
ent, and was constantly talking about his
family coming to want, though he Was in
very comfortable circumstances.
The pistol with which the terrible deed
was done, had be6a lLGaea for wear past,
and had been carefully KEEP. out of the
sight of Mr.. Edwards, for fear Of his max
ing an attempt upon his own life. Just
before moving 10 Nashville, he had dis
covered the weapon hidden away at the
bottom Of a trunk belonging to his wife.
This trunk he opened yesterday morning,
no one being in the room at the time, but
himself, licked the door and deliberately
took his own life.
Mrs. Edwards heard the report of the
pistol, but thought the noise was made by
the falling of a window, and was on the
point Of entering the room to raise it again,
when she found that the door had been Sc
curely locked. She became alarmed at once,
called naighbOr, Mr.. Raymond Sloan, and
the door wasforced open. klr. Edwards was
discovered lying on the floor, near the open
lEuuh- VIII tue DiOOu gushing lIOiu HIS
temple, and with the pistol lying near him.
DR.. Stout was called in Immediately, but
saw at glance that Mr.. Edwards was be-
yond all earthly help. COrnner Rrantly
was notified, and he held an inquest within
an hour, the jury returning a verdic: to the
effect that the deceased had shot himself
while laboring under fit of temporary in
sanity. For the past year he had been in
the habit of taking grain of morphine per
day, to alleviate his pain, and yesterday
morning he increased the dose to three
grains. At the time of his death he was
fifty-eight years of age. He was kind and
considerate husband and father, and was
universally respected by ali who knew him.
Mr.. Raymond B. Sloan sent a dispatch
to Samuel Edwards, Treasurer of Barren
county, Ills, brother of the deceased,
announcing the sad event. A reply was
received to the effect that Mr.. Edwards
official duties would prevent him from COM
ing to Nashville. The mother of the de
ceased is now in Illinois on a visit.
The funeral will take place at ten
o'clock this morning.