Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-26
A STARTLING SUICIDE
Willard N. Buell. Takes His Own
Life
In a Fit Of Mental Depression.

The Plattsmouth Herald of the 22d, |
says: The community was startled
this morning by the announcement
that a stranger, visiting In the city
had taken his own life, and an investi
CATION Of the rumor developed the
fact that 1t was only too true. Mr..
Willard N. Buell., q son.in.law of
Chaplain Wright, committed suicide
last evening by shooting himself, In a
fit Of mental depression, at tho resi-.
dence of his father.in.law. The re.
port of the pistol was not heard by
any one, aud from the time no was
last seen alive until he vas found
dead, q period of about four or five
hours had elapsed, The particulars,
as far as known may be cleaned
from tho testimony of Chaplain and
Mira. Wright and Drs. Livingston
and Hall, given at the coroner's In
quest.
Chaplain Wright's testimony was In
substance as sollows:
"Mr. Buell. left the room where we
were sitting, about half past three
o'clock, and the superstition was that
he had gone up stairs. He didn't
come down, and I went up to see what
the matter was, not knowing his mind
was in an unsettled condition. He was
not there and l concluded he had gone
down town, as he was looking for a
letter from his wife. l began to feel
uneasy, and between five and six
o'clock went down town to look tor
him. Not finding him, I concluded
he had gone to the junction to meet
his wife. l left word With. N. Wise,
aud he also started out to help hunt
him
Mrs. Wright had occasion about 8
O'Clock to go to the water closet, aud
felt timld about 1t. l went out and
stood ON the porch. The door to the
water closet opened toward the inside.
She said she couldn't get the door
open and that some n was inside. I
went out and discovered that some one
was inside, and put my hand around
and 1t rested on his neck and ear. I
found his neck cold. I told my wife
1t was Wi lard, and that he was dead.
I went over for VIII and p. L. Wise,
and we ttlephoned for Dr.. Livingston
and Sheriff Hyers. He (Mr. Buell)
has been Insane at times for years.
His head trouble affected his mind.
He showed signs of insanity Thurs.
day, but none Wednesday. He said
he would rather die than live. I have
noticed a tendency to insanity for
three or four years. / think it was
hereditary. I had no hope of his re-
covery. DR.. Livingston, VIII Wise,
P. S. Wise and j. N. Wise brought
him into the house"
Mrs. Wright testified that she had
known Mr.. Buell. for eighteen or nine
teen years; that he has not been right
10 his mind aince he has been here,
and that he was worse yesterday. She
fret discovered him about the time
the train came in, between sever and
. eight o'clock. Didn't know hat he
ever threatened to take his own life,
, He was Al or 45 years of age.
1 DIR. Livingston examined the de-
Iceas, d, and ssyo that death was caused
by q small pistol ball entering thu
brain about one inch below the ooci,
pital, ranging forward and upward, and
that The wound could have been pro.
: duoed by deceased's own hand. HI
found him in the water closet lying or
HE face, and the pistol lying ct hii
feet. In company with Chaplain
Wright he called on Cr. Livington
last Sunday, and has called twice
since. Deceased was troubled with
catarrh and he told Chaplain Wright
he would 60 insane and threatened to
take his own life. He asked DR.. Liv-
~ingston II anything else allied him,
and the doctor told him "No," where.
upon he replied that II he couldn't
get we'll he would rather be dead.
DR.. Hall corroborated the testimony
of DR.. Livingston In regard to the
wound.
The testimony of viii Wise, P. L.
Wise and j. N. Wise as to finding the
body Is In substance the same as that
given by Chaplain Wright.
The following letter was found In
Mr.. Buell's pass book:
March %, 1883.
The asylum or the g~rsve--the latter
will be best for my family. May God
forgive. Ned, be good and remember
the instructions In the book I sent yor
while at Lawrence. Little ignoran,
boys acquire habits sometimes tina
make their lives miserable.
Maud, / have been In good healti
most Of our married life, for which
thank God, and hope you may b.
happy. ;,
: than be q dependent on our friends
9 especially when they n not able t.
o care for us.
1t does not seem right to live h
cause the suffering of others.
d God forgive me, I know my mind 1
e fast going.
Q Hope my dear family that you vii
remember some kind things Of me
for 1 have worked hard q good man,
:. years and tried to be an honorable
man.
wish I had always been q Christian
n man, and hope my boys may be, ant
that they may grow up to be usefu
men,"
Chaplain Wright recognized thu
writing as that of Mr.. Buell..
The verdict of the c%oroner's jur!
y was rendered about / o'clockla s night
:. and is as follows.
n At an inquisition holden at Platts
mouth, 10 Cass Co., Neb., on the 2
d day of March, A. d. 1883, before Mr.
d p. p. Gass, coroner Of said county
" upon the body Of Willard N. Bue.
living dead. the iurorA upon thel