Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-26
A DESPERATE DEED.
Driven to Despair by Adversely, Frank
Hill Takes his Life with his
own Hands.

Franklin Tenn. ReUieIO and Journal, Oath
"Early last Saturday morning news was
brought to town that Frank Hull, son of
Elk Sheriff Hezekiah Hill of this county had
been found dead near his residence, two
miles out on the Boyd's mill pike. Coroner
Charles +. Wall Immediately summoned a
jury, composed of DR.. VIM. White, M. L..
Andrews, James t. Shannon, r. h. Haynes,
VIM. L. Smith, John G. Wells and John L.
Andrews, IT., and proceeded TO the place de-
slgnated, for the purpose of lnqulrlng into
the matter. Arriving there they found the
body OF Hill lying upon his back upon the
ground, just inside the gate at his home,
near the roadside. and about forty yards from
his house, with face upward, the body
stretched at full length, the night ann out
stretched and the lett folded across his bosom.
At his left side, about one foot from his body,
lay an empty squirrel rife, about four
feet long, and near 1t was the ramrod which
had evidently been used by Hill 10 fire the
gun. There was considerable blood about
the tace, and the first impression was that he
had been shot in tine right eye, but this was
shown to be a mistake upon an examination
Of the body. 1t WIS found that the ball had
entered his left breast, about one inch from
and to the right of the nipple, showing that
death was instant. His body was still warm
when found, which evidences that he COM
mitted the act not far from daylight. The
circumstances indicated that he placed the
butt of the gun on the fence, with muzzle
against his breast, and with the ramrod
sprang the trigger. His clothing and flesh
around the wound were considerably powder
burned. The body was conveyed to the house
and prepared for burial. He had in his
pockets knife, box of caps, vial of powder,
some bullets, an old glove and a handker-
chief. Lying near the body when found was
an old satchel containing some articles of his
wearing apparel. Although the occurrence
took place SO near the residence, none OF the
family heard the report Of the gun, and
nothing was known of the matter until
neighbor boy who had staid all night at Hills
started home and discovered the body lying as
above stated. Mrs. Hill said that Frank LETT
home on the Monday morning before to hunt
for work. saying that she would not
hear from him until he had obtained
some kind of employment. He was in ex-
ceedlngly low spirits when he left about the
condition of his family and his inability
to provide for their wants-indeed, Mrs. Hill
said on this account he was almost crazy
He went In q westerly direction, and that was
the last che saw or heard OF him alive The
presumption was that he sought employment
without avail, and brooded over his troubles
until he reached point OF desperation tt at
induced him to end the matter by taking his
own life. He had loaned his gun sometime
ago to somebody in the neighborhood of his
ola homes ana lt Is supposed that IN his
rounds he called and got it. Hill was con-
sidered q Woodworking, industrious man,
at times he was dissipated. In the
late war he was a member of PEBBLES COM
pany Twenty-fourth Tennessee regiment,
Confederate States army. He was about
fifty years old, of stout build, and man of
average intelligence. He leaves a wife and
several children, including two grown sons.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was that
said Hill came to his death from a gun-shot
wound supposed to have been inflicted by his
own hands,