Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-03-12
Suicide in Goshen Township.

Suicide in Goshen Township.
Washington Hunt residing one mile
north of Hunter, ON the road 10 Bel
mont, upon the widow Ewers' farm,
committed suicide last Thursday NOR
ming, by hanging himself to beam in
the barn. The testimony given before
the Corener's Jury, which we print in
full below shows that the friends o. the
deceased had noticed some derange-
ment of his mind. We are informed
that he frequently intimated to his
wife that he was ready and wanted to
die, but she took very little notice of it
because of it having been repeated SO
often.
On Tuesday before the sad occurrence,
Mr.. Jos. Daniels, of this place, cousin
of deceased, visited him and he COM
planned then of not feeling very well,
and remarked that his digestive appa-
ratus was out of order. He was de-
jected, alleging that he had no way of
living save from his labor and he was
not able to work. When Mr.. D. Ge-
parted with him, with a peculiarly
melancholy expression he said sadly !:
Remember me-"
Mr.. Hunt had sufficient competency
to keep him from want; had comfort
able home and agreeable family rela-
tions, and no cause is known except
that named for his mental alteration.
He was an earnest member of the
Baptist Church. He leaves! a wife but
no children.
Below we give all the evidence be-
fore the Jury and their verdict:
STATE OF OHIO, GOSHEN TP.,
BELMONT COUNTY, s. S.
The inquest by the undersigned Jury
duly empaneied and sworn, was held
on the 9Th day of March, 1874, at the
residence of deceased, G. W. Hunt, in
said township, over the dead body Ol
g. w. Hunt, who was supposed TO have
come to his death by violence. The
undersigned Andrew McIlvain, J. P
for said township then and there acted
las Coroner, the Coroner being so re
mote from said described premises tina
his services could not be procured
The following is the testimony befor'
the Justice and Jury: =
Adaline Hunt, (Wife of deceased
stated when she first saw deceased h
was hanging with his back to me il
barn; the sun was about half hOu
6 high in morning; gave alarm by hal
lowing, and Emma Ewers then cam
to the barn; have not considered hin
. in his right miud for long time;
= think he was insane at times from
despondent state of the mind; he state
:. to me this morning that he was read
! to die and that he must take his life
he called the boys and the boys wen
: to the barn after he did.
. Emma Ewers states, when l first SAY
him this morning, between 6 and
l. o'clock, he was hanging by the nee
: by leather line fastened
beam and around his neck, his fet
;. being near the floor; went to him an
y took him by his arms, then ran
70 the house and got knife and ran bac
to the barn and cut the strap anu Il
him down the best could, and he W.
% dead as far as 1 could see; took h
u head in my lap and felt his pulse, bl
- could not discover any life; 1 think
-, was not absent from his house mo-
a = than one-half hour when he was di
- covered hanging in the barn.
ne Lide KennLn stated, that when 81
~ ~ went to the barn this morning he w
cut down and laying on the barn hoc
10 Emma Ewers was rubbing his hand
a. yesterday evening l inquired how
q was; he said he felt so melancholy.
Allen Ewers stated, that this me
ming deceased called me to the ba
and directed me to clean the stable al
". curry the horses; done rs was dire
ad ell and then came to the house; t
horses was eating when first went
co the stable; suppose the deceased h
90 fed them; after 1 had returned hea
0 Adaline Hunt hallowing at the bal
10. | then went to the barn and saw hi
he hanging by strap attached to bea
and around his neck; myself and Ca
!. fluff were the only male persons abe
Il; the house; yesterday evening HI
IA was talking to me and remarked Il
he wanted me to take charge of I
vs. work and go ahead as he did not
py able.
of Cassius Huff, stated as follows: I a
lor and have been living with Washingt
Hunt about three years; this morni
ier deceased called me to get up out of b.
aac did 80 and then went to the barn q
found him there; he directed me q
ior Allen Ewers to curry the horses a
Inc clean out the stable; the horses
tbeen fed and was eating; I did not