Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-07
A SAD FATE.
Suicide of stephen f. Newton.

Suicide of stephen #. Newton.
The announcement yesterday morning
that Mr.. Stephen f. Newton had come to
his death by his own hand, Occasioned
considerable sensation in this community,
where he was well known and esteemed.
Mr.. Newton was a rice planter and was
comfortably well off. Shortly over a
year ago he was stricken with the
heat, suffering a severe case of
coup de SoLel, which greatly i'm
paired his health. and from which he
had never entirely recovered. For the past
few years he had been overseer on the plan
tatiOn Of DR.. j. B. Read, known as Bramp-
ton. on the Savannah river, but in cOnse-
quence of his failing health was compelled
to relinquish it day or two since. This
seemed to depress him greatly, and con-
siderable uneasiness was occaSlOned his
family. On Saturday he was attacked
with commissions and was attended by Dr.
J. 7. Mcfarland who was with him ire
quently during Sunday and Monday. On
Tuesday he seemed greatly improved and
was up, though his family still felt solicit
Gus about him. Yesterday morning about
seven O'Clock he got up, dressed, and left
his house, corner of Bolton and Jefferson
streets. and proceeded down Bolton to
Cemetery street. where he halted, and then
deliberately shot himself through the head,
the ball entering back of the right ear,
passing directly through the brain, and
coming out above and back of the left ear.
The report attracted the attention of some
/ early risers, who fastened to the
spot, and discovered the unfortunate
man living unconscious on the
ground, the blood OOZing from the
ugly wound in his head. He was imme-
Il /, Il~c
Charlton and Mcfarland summoned, who
pronounced the wound fatal. All that
was possible was done for his relief, but
to no avail, and he died about half past II
O'Clock.
The deceased was about A years of age,
and leaves a widow and two sons aged
and 4 years. He was member
in General r. II. AndersOn's
brigade, during the war, and bore the
record of a gallant soldier. He was also
a member Of Golden Rule Lodge No. u,
l. .. o. F., and was regarded with high
esteem by all who knew him. The fatal
act was committed while laboring under
/ temporary alteration of mind, caused, it is
supposed, by melanchOlia on account OF
/ his health and his inability for active
work. The sympathy of many friends is
extended to- his bereaYed family.
Coroner Sheftall was notified, and dur
/ ing the afternoon held an inquest, when
the following testimony was elected:
/ STATEMENT OF DIR. M'FARLAND.
/ DR.. J. +. Mcfarland was sworn and
made the following statement:
Il was called on Saturday night, Decem-
/ Der ,, 1882, about 9:45 O'Clock, visit pro-
! fessiOnally the deceased Mr. Stephen f.
/ Newton; | visited him at his residence
northwest corner of Jefferson and Bolton
/ streets. the house where the body now is
/ lying; | was informed that the deceased
! had been in severe commissions for an
/ hour or more; at the time of my visit he
was not in commissions, but his mind was
much clOuded; | remained with him until
/ about II O'Clock at night; at time OF
/ leaving him his consciousness had return
! ed, but he was in very nervous cOndl-
/ ton: | visited him professionally on sun
/ day, Sd, and Monday, 4th OfDecember, 1882,
when ceased my visits: his condition
/ at this time was one of nervousness, and
/ he spoke despOndently regarding his
/ future health; on Wednesday, December
! 9th. 1882, | responded to call, left at my
! office about 8 o'clock a. m. to see the said
/ ;. f. Newton; / found him in dying con-
ditiOn, and npon examination found two
wounds in the skull. presenting the char
acteristics of gunshOt wounds, the ball
/ entering above and near the right ear,
! and making its exit on opposite and rear
q
/ injury from gunshot wound, the projectile
/ entering the BRAIN
TESTIMONY.
Isaac Allen, sworn: About seven
O'Clock this morning Mr.. Newton came to
! the stable and told me to have his horse
and buggy ready Immediately after break
/ fast. as he intended going to the BramptOn
/ place; while | was getting the horse he
/ went to the buggy and examined it and
] Gin I
replied | would attend to it and
/ have the buggy ready in time for
/ him: he then went into the house,
as | thought, to breakfast; shortly after
wards Mrs. Newton came out and asked
/ me where Mr.. Newton was; | said he had
/ gone into the house; l stopped my work
and commenced a search about the house
/ for him, and, not finding him, went into
/ the garden: | noticed his track and fol-
/ lowed it in the direction of West Broad
! street, and was told by the man that keeps
/ the fruit store that Mr.. Newton had
passed that way, apparently gong TO
meet the carS;s when L crossed west
/ Broad street | thought | heard pistol
/ shot in the direction of HeldtS farm;
/ | continued on until | got to Cuyler street
and lust beyond saw Mr.. Newton lying on
the ground with a pistol in his left hand;
/ | went back for a mattress and he was
conveyed home in an unconscious cOndi-
! ton: he was subject to epileptic fits.
! ID. j. Newton testified that he recOg-
nized the deceased to be his brother,
( stephen f. Newton, aged A years.
j. T. Shuptrine, sworn: Had known the
deceased for the past five years; about a
wear ago he was suffering with epilepsy,
and his mind was affected by the frequent
attacks, and at times he was not cOnsci-
+ Gus of what he was saying; Saturday
night he had an. attack, and / remained
Z Ii Ill mia Monday
/ 10 see him and he seemed very much de-
pressed and appeared to be impressed with
/ the idea that every one was tired of him; /
/ endeavOred to cheer him up, but to no effect,
/ his only answer being that he had mlsera-
I BILE health and might as well be out of the
way, wishing that he had died on Satur-
! dav night: on Tuesday saw him again,
! and his depression seemed greater; | was
notified this morning that he had shot
himself and proceeding to his house
I found him in dying condition.
/ VIM. H. LanieT, sworn: Am the brother
/ in-law of deceased; called to see him
/ Monday afternoon and found him very
much depressed mentally; | tried to rally
him by relating pleasant jokes, but to no
purpose; informed his wife that thought
/ his mind was affected and that his move
ments should be watched; | remained at
/ the house all night, and slept in the adj
| Joining room, with the view of looking
] after INN.
T The witness here exhibited an envelope
! which he stated he had found on the
/ bureau in the room of the deceased. This
/ envelope bore the following words in the
/ handwriting of Mr.. Newton.
Farewell, pet. Keep this. God forgive
me-"
/ No further testimony was taken, and
| after deliberatiOn the jury returned the
/ following
VERDICT.
We. the jury, find from the evidence be-
| fore us that the deceased, Stephen 7.
/ Newton. came to his death by pistol
| shot wound inflicted by his own hand
1 while suffering from mental alteration.
The Cotton Cleaner.
Messrs. Daffin & Dresser, of this city,
/ have recently put up one of their cotton
cleaners in New Orleans, and on Friday
/ I,s4 n pun, bpr of r1rOminpnt. merchants