The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-08
rHE rULL EARTHQUAKES.
Details In Cennection with the sescld
OF Charley Ford.

OF Charley Ford.
RICHMOND, No., May 6.-This CON-
munitY was startled this morning by the
announcement that Charley Ford, one of
the notorious Ford boys who participa-
ted in the death Of Jesse James, the out
law, had committed suicide at the home
of his family, not far from this place.
As can be imagined the affair created
great surprise, as the Ford boys have
lived in this locality many yeaes, and
since the breaking up Of the great rob
bsE band they have been VIGOROUSLY be-
fore the public. 1t seems that few
weeks ago Charley Ford returned from
Kansas City where he had been living
with his brother Bob, and went to the
house Of his mother in this county. He
had not been feeling well for q long
time, and from consumption and other
diseases had became greatly reduced,
but it was not thought by any one that
he was in a condition to take his own
life. The news, then that he had
SHOT HIMSELF
through the heart was q surprise to the
entire community, and many persons ct
first believed the report 70 De untrue.
The Times correspondent, however, as
certained that the report was true, and
at once went to the scene of the tragedy.
Upon his arrival Ct the Ford farm he
was met By Captain Ford, the eldest of
the family, who stated that Char 4
ley was dead by pistol ball
fired by his own hand. Entering the
house the brother OF the dead man led /
the way up stairs to q small attic room,
with Q low ceiling which slanted on
both sides. The gray-haired mother sat
near the bed with panied, pitiful look
on her face and eyes red with weeping
over the dead body. Turning to the
bed and removing the cloth from the
face we saw the features of the man who
has been SO much talked of in connec-
ton with
HIS BROTHER BOB
since the killing of Jesse James IN st.
Joseph. The dead man lay stretched
out at full length on the bed, and was
dressed with the exception of coat and
vest, shirt, collar and shoes. The face
wore no look OF pain, though it looked
thin from sickness. The hands crossed
over the chest looked white and tender
as . child's. The upper teeth projected
somewhat over the lower jaw and
snlall mustache fringed the upper lip:
Turning down strip OF muslin laid
over the left breast the death wound was
revealed.
THE DEATH WOUND.
Through the outer shirt directly oyer
the heart there was q powder burned
hole about the size or silver dollar and
a smaller hole through the undershirt
where the ball entered the brest. The
wound was small and closed. Blood
had stained the left sholder aud side and
soaked into the bed beneath the body.
HIS MOTHERS STORY.
From the mother of the dead man the
~ aNuv- lno
On Thursday last Charlie came home
from Kansas City, having walked from
Lexington Junction, a distance of four
miles. He had been sick for some time
and said that he had come home to get
fresh milk and butter and get well. In
handling his clothes Mrs. Ford found
bottle of morphine, and upon question
ing Charlie he said that he had been
taking the drug to make him sleep, as
his nights had been restless and he
could not go to sleep without it. At the
breakfast table this morning Charlie
told his father to get him some NOR
phlne when he came to town, as he was
out, which was true, as an empty bottle
was found in his coat pocket. He ate
heaFtier breakfast than usual, played
with a child at the house after break
fast and went to his room about 8
O'Clock.
HIS FATHER AND BROTHER
went out to do some work on the road
near the farm. Shortly before 8 O'Clock
the woman IN the house heard . pistol
shot up stairs and fall Of what proved
to be large old style Colts navy pistol
that belonged to his brother, Cap Ford,
and had been placed in q closet in the
room. On going up stars
this pistol was found lying in the
middle of tina floor and Charlie lay
stretched upon the bed in the position
above described. Blood was running
down from his breast upon the floor and
ooZing from his mouth and nostrils.
Wiping away the blood from his
face his mother endeaVored to get him
to speak to her and tell why he had shot
himself, but
HE NEVER SPOKE.
or recognized her, and within short
time ceased to breathe.
There was not scrap OF paper left TO
Indicate that he contemplated the act,
and why he took his own life will never
be positively known. Theories are
plentiful, and perhaps the best is that he
had consumption and an aggravated dis
ease OF the bladder, which caused him
of late great pain. It was for this that
he had recourse TO morphine, as his
father said he had suffered almost be-
yond endurance since his return home
Thursday. This. with the statement
that he had run out Of money, no doubt
led to that state of mind which brings
an individual to the point Of taking his
own life.