The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-29
sHAMED TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
A Victim of the "Code."

LOUISVILLE, KY, May 15.-A great
sensation was caused to-day by the sui
eide of Superior Judge Richard Reid at
Mount Sterling, Ky. On April 16 Judge
Reid was cowhided by John G. Cornell.
son, a prominent barrister, in his law
Office at Mount Sterling. Corneilson &C.
cused the distinguished jurist Of duplicity
in an important lawsuit, and attacked
him. Judge Reid made no resistance
and failed afterward to call his assailant
to account, although importuned to do so
by his wife and many of his friends. he
wrote long card at the time, in which
be defended his course by declaring that
he considered it beneath judicial dignity
and unbecoming Christian to seek re-
dress in personal encounter. BY many
his course was approved, but others
charged him with lack of manly cour.
age. His wife, who is a high.spirited
woman as we'll as most ambitious one,
is said to have rebuked him bitterly. 1t
is alleged that she threatened to shoot
Corneilson herself if her husband failed
to do so. All these things weighed upon
the spirit of the Judge, and to-day the
affair ended in a pitiable tragedy. AT
9 o'clock this morning he walked into
the Office of Judge Brock, at Mount
Sterling, and said be was going up stairs
to rest. At ten minutes past II o'clock
Judge Brock found him on the floor,
with his right arm extended along his
side, and pistol with one chamber dis.
charged lying beside him. He was quite
dead. The ball had penetrated the skull
behind the right ear, and had found an
exit on the opposite side. Nothing CIV
ing reason why be had taken his own
life has been found. His wife is at home
sick, and when she received the news her
grief was most affecting.
Judge Reid had been out on an elec-
tioneering tour over the District, and re-
turned only three days ago. His friends
met him here, and after consultation
and the laying out Of work, he started
out among those with whom he had been
raised with bright hopes inspiring the
thought that he would be the nominee of
the party. This morning early be was
mixing with his fellow.men, shaking
hands, and urging them to come to the
polls and give him their support. His
mind was clear, and he used convincing
reasons why they should give him their
votes.
When Colonel II. L. Stone, his law
partner, entered the room where Judge
Reid lay dead, he fell on his knees by
the side of the corpse and wept bitterly.
The Judges aged mother, who has stood
up under many sorrows, came to the
room and broke down with grief. Busi-
ness in Mount Startling is suspended, and
men are copgregating everywhere with
this only topic before them.
The tragic result of the unfortunate
controversy between Corneilson and
Judge Reid has completely dazed the
public, and there are many expressions
of condemnation of Corneilson, and his
position is thoroughly unenviable one.
Judge Richard Reid was one of the
most prominent lawyers and most popu-
lar politicians in the Eastern part of the
State. He was elected to the Superior
Court last year, and at the time of his
death was making race 10r tne COulC
of Appeals to succeei Hargis.
1t is believed that Judge Reid stood
up before the looking-glass, put the pis-
tol behind his right ear and fired, falling
at full length on his back. The ball had
passed straight through bis brain and
struck the wall of the room short dis.
tance from him.
The following note, written on the
back of q business card, was found on
the bureau in Judge Brooks room
Mad Mad Forgive me, dear wife,
and love to the boy" 1t was not signed,
but it is the handwriting of Judge Reid.
1t is singular fact that no one heard
the report of the pistol. The weapon
used by Judge Reid was one be kept at
his house, but never carried, and appear
ed to have just been loaded. This is
tragic ending of the life of a man who
has always been believer in the Chris.
tian religion and a man of fine mind.
The news Of his death in such tragic
manner will be received with sorrow
wherever he is known. His wife, aged
mother, brother and sisters are complete.
Iy prostrated.