The Columbus journal., 1881-06-01
Suicide of John n. Lawson.

fingered unconscious till a quarter
after eleven, when he breslhed his
last.
He had not been home since Sat-
urday last, and his wife and two
daughters had spent the night with
their friend Mrs. Griffin, the grand
mother of the children. Monday
morning about seven, Carrie, the
oldest daughter, went to Mr.. Hills
for milk, and while there spoke with
her father, who told her they had
better not come home for breakfast,
but eat at their grandmOthers
After break fast at Mrs. Gritlin's the
family went home. They knocked
at the front door, which was locked,
and Carrie called her father lmme-
diately they heard the sound of
pistol. They then went to a side
door, and entered the house, but
could not get into the room where
the unfortunate man had imprisoned
himself. Calling i'm one of the gh-
bors, the door was forced open, aud
Mr.. Lawson was found lying on the
bed, in the agonies of death, Il Colts
pistol and razor lying near him.
lie, evidently, had deliberately
planned the deed, though We have
failed to learn of any intimation that
he had it in contemplation, or any
thing going to show that he ever
before exhibited signs of insanity.
He had probably returned home very
late Sunday night or early Monday
morning, after night of losses at
the gaming table, excited, remOrse-
ful, and, brOoding over his troubles,
became mad. Letters, written evil
IDENTIFY at this time, to acquaintances
in the city, reveal his feelings and
his thoughts. In these he says moth
ing of determination to kill him.
self, but of his troubles having
driven him mad. Having provided
himself with two effective instru-
ments of death, Colts revolver and
sharp razor, he sat upon the bed,
took the pistol in his right hand,
held il to his head, and fired the
fatal ball which crashed through the
skull and brain, rendering him I'M
conscious and causing death, as
before stated.
The letters referred to were dated
May Both, and directed to J. Z.
Becker, G. A. Speice and Capt. |
Hammond, containing directions as
to his personal effects, the disposi-
ton of his children, &c. lie gives
the names of persons by whom he
lost money at gambling, aud tells
where the "dens" were kept, and
where also some watches may be /
found that he is supposed to have
pawned for money.
lie accuses himself of having been |
bad man, asks his old friends to |
forgive him for his wrong acts in
volving them in loss, begs of his |
children to remember his kindness |
to them, and asks to be buried by |
the side of his wife who is dead. |
He also says that if the business of |
gambling is not stopped in this city |
there will be more men go the same |
road.
The letters are private property,
and of their contents we have not |
the privilege of publishing more
than appears above.
The deceased was born in Ohio
and was about 3S years old when he
died. He was in the service during
ing the Rebellion, and, as a member
of Capt. Eagau's company of the
regular army, did duty in the west
ern country, and is said to have
been a good soldier.
He left the service several years
ago, farmed awhile in the western
part of this county, moved to the
city, engaged in the sewing machine
business, lost money and was COM
PEELED to quit business. About two
years ago he lost his wife, and about
one year ago married very estima-
bic lady of Butler county, now his
widow, whose money in considera-
bic quantity he squandered at cards.
Latterly he has been doing no work,
earning nothing, providing nothing
for his family, and Oh Saturday last
sold horse for S75, losing probably
all of it,eXcept the twenty-five cents
found on his person. at the gaming
table Saturday night, Sunday and
Sunday night.
Ii is not known that there was
any taint of insanity in Mr.. Law
sons family, but friend suggests
that he was once, while in the SER
vice of his country, injured in the
head and had the operation of tre-
panning performed, and that the
wound might have been the cause
of insanity developing now.
Sheriff Spielman, acting as cor
oner, summoned jury Monday con-
sisting Of VIM. Burgess,C G. III. Dung,
ii. j. Hudson, j. Rickly, NJ. Schram,
jr., and ii. Hughes, who rendered a
verdict that the deceased had died