The Osceola times., 1882-10-14
The story or A Wrecked
Life.

perintcndent of Public instruction,
committed suicide while temporarily
insane Monday October 9th. Below
we copy an editorial from the Ga
zette commenting on this sad event:
The startling announcement was
made on the streets yesterday after
noon that Rev. j. l.. Denton, state
superintendent of public instruction,
had ended his life by suicide. The
report was only too true. AT noon
he leaped from the balcony of Judge
Gregg's residence in Fayetteville,
Arkansas, and fell to the ground,
crushing his skull. The facts, in adj
dition to sketch of the career of
Mr.. Denton and a recital of the in
cidents to which the rash act can be
traced, are printed elsewhere.
The man whose bleeding corpse
awaits burial in Fayetteville but a
few months ago enjoyed the full
measure of a personal popularity
such as come to few men in his
sphere of usefulness. For years one
of the most beloved of ministers in
the Methodist church, he had left
the pulpit when called to the work
of building solidly on the foundations
of our public educational system.
For four years he had toiled, as per-
haps few would have toiled. But
his heart was in his work. And he
lived to witness the growth Of the
edifice his hands had done so much
to mold into shape and consistency,
until no one witnessed its fair pro-
portions without feeling that it con-
stitutcd to the man whose brain,
whose zeal. whose labor had buildcd
as with a magic hand, monument
enduring us the cause itself.
There are few persons in Arkansas
who do not know why the dreadful
deed which ushered this man before
the tribunal Of God was perpetrated.
He had been accused in general
terms of acts directly affecting that
which is dearest to every honorable
man, his personal integrity. These
charges he denied. EXonoration had
carried such conviction of their un.
worthincss that democratic state
convention for the third time, amid
cheers that attested the firmness of
his hold on the popular heart, bade
him continue the work in which,
while honoring himself, he had hon
ored the state. Few men believed
them. They were vague, indefinite.
Against tha.n was the record OF life
devoted to the service Of Him who
suffered on Calvary.
That the authors OF these charges
believed tban true we shall not ques-
tion. If any who cast them in his
face every day were not convinced,
absolutely, of their verify, they must
be made of stone if the recital of his
death move them not to agony. For
be they true or false: he they veri-
table or the offspring OF mere delu-
sion, these dreadful charges goadcd
this man to his death. They broke
his heart They caused him TO feel
that the finger of scorn pointed at
him as he walked forth at MONDAY.
lie could not endure the thought that
any of Gods creatures should think
him base. For him the sun no long
er shone. For him no longer the
birds sang. To him night was sue
ceeded only by night. The bright
light went out of his eyes. Laugh
ter deserted his voice. Involuntari-
ly he shrunk into the shadows. And
then mental oblivion, dolirium, a
leap, and the story OF a wrecked life
is told.
Whatever of merit or dcmcrit may
be hidden in the accusations which
unwittingly wrought this sad ruin,
no hand will now move to their rev.
clation. They cost a life that was
precious to beloved wife and Or
phancd children; dear to tens OF
thousands who loved him for his
deeds, and by whom his memory will
ever be cherished as that of one who
was not base: one who deserved not
the scom of man; one who nobly
performed his part in life, and on
whose npturned face the God OF