The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-28

DEpLoRABLE SUICIDE.-On Sunday
morning last, Mr. c Sherman came to
town in quest of the Coroner. stating
that suicide had taken place the
day before at Salmon Bay. DR. Spar
ling being out Of town. Justice Coombs
WAS called. From him we gleaL the
following concerning the deplorabls Of
fair. Some two months age an old
man named James lawson. who had re-
SIDED on ciaim at the mouth IT Sal
mon Bay for a long time with his wife
and little grandchild. received notifica-
ton that the title to his land claim was
defective. I'D that . man named
Swiet zer had made home stead filing
On it, and would soon take possession
Of it. This worked on the old mans
mind so tina. he could not sleep. The
thought Of losing his home in his old
agr. was terrible to him, aud lie thought
anc talked Of nothing else. He stated
to his wife that he did not care to live
if lie must be turned out homeless On
the night of the Path. Thos Kennedy, n
neighbor, on his way to town, stopped
at the house and knocked but failed to
get admitted. While waiting. be walk
ed back and forth several times on the
porch. and finally left. coming on to
town. After leaving the house. he
heard the report Of pistol, but
thought nothing particular Of the oc-
currence. Mrs Lawson says that when
her husband heard tho footsteps Of the
neigLbor. he frghtfully exclaimed.
There they come TO take our homer
He GIT up out OF bed, and presently
she heard pistol shot. Then she
tainted aud all was blank for awhile.
When she recovered. she said: "Oh. my
husband, they have shot you'' Pres.
eutly he made desperate effort TO
speak, and said: mo. wife. shot my
self :" lie had an ugly wound i'll hi, left
breast. and died in u few moments af-
ter telling his wife that he did the
teed. A pistol laid at his side with
one chamber empty. At day break the
distracted widow made known to tho
neghbors the terrible transaction. .
one Of whom. as stated above, FASTENED
to this city James Lawson was an
old sea captain. about 80 years old at
the tine of his death, and native Of
Nor"ay. Several years ago he located
on Salmon Bay and had spent several
hundred dollars and much hard work in
Improvements ON his claim. to which he
Was very much attached. He was the
father Of eight children. all Of whom
are dead. The erandchild living with
the old folks was the son of X 0
Schmidt. a son.in>law Of Lawson. Mrs
Schmint having died some time since.
The renains Of the old man were carc~
fully laid away in beautiful spot on
on his beloved land claim. by tho
friends ard neishoors, on Sunday af-
teruoon The occurrence has cast u
gloom over the entire neighborhooi
where the old man was respected by
all. We append the verdict of the
Ccroners jury: We. tho jurymen sun
moned to inquire into the death Of Jas
Lawson. deceased, late Of King county.
render tho following verdict: We And
that jas Lawson. deceased. was born in
Norway. and aged 81 years The cause
ct lis death was from pistol shot by
his own hands. October cath. 1879. II
his home at the month of Salmon Bay.
in King county. The act WAS done
under a tit Of temporary insanity. caus
cd through fear OF losing his home by
reason of another threatening to take
It by a homestead fling in the Land
Office