Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-06-13
SUICIDE.
A Well Known Citizen Dies at Ills Own


Mr.. Rufus ]. Gardner died at the
Fowlkes House in this city, Thursday
morning, from dose OF morphine
taken with suicidal intent at an early
hour the night before.
After supper Wednesday night, he
persuaded his two little girls TO 20 to
prayer meeting in company with Rev.
Mr.. Donaldson. When they retured
they found HIM lying on his bed in a
cornatose state and immediately in
formed the household of his condition
Mr.. Lewis, whose room is near that
occupied by tile GARDENERS, was among
the first to reach him and Immediately
summoned DIR. Bailey, who with DIR.
Carney and DR.. Will Bailey, used every
possible method to restore the unfor-
tunate man to Consciousness, but with
out avail. AS stated above, the last
evidence of life passed away at four
O'Clock Thursday morning.
Mr.. Gardner was 81 years old. He
was 4 native of Robertson county and
lived in district Nos of this county.
for a number of years. ftt3f 4
Shortly after the death of bis wife,
which occurred in February 1884, he
sold his farm In the 9th district and
went to Springfield to live. He then
reeinded the sale of the farm, but
shortly afterwards sold it again and
came to GAINESVILLE. This was about
six months ago His object in com
ing here was to go into the confection-
cry business with Mr.. g. A. Ligon,
which he did, but withdrew from the
firm after being in only few weeks.
Afterwards he insisted on being taken
into partnership with Mr.. J. NJ
Fowlkes in the sewing machine bust
ness, but, the articles of agreement
were hardly signed before he was will
ling to pay Mr.. Fowlkes bonus to re-
lease him. He proposed subsequently
to put in some capital with Mr.. NJ.
L. Joslin in the saddlery business, but
changed his intention before any
agreement had been reached. About
a week ago he purchased the @Lone
Star" saloon from Mr.. Ed Mcclure for
81 900 which is generally considered a
pretty big price.
All OF these peculiar transactions go
to show that his mind was unbalanced
and that his self destruction was the
result of his unsound mental condi-
ton. t -
A vial which had contained / of an
ounce of r1orphine was found in his
room and about two-thirds of it was
gone. He purchased this from Mr.
at the drug store of Lockert
. Reynolds, Tuesday. Monday he
went into the same drugstore and en-
quired OF Mr.. Lacy Lockert the price
OF morphine, but dad not then make |
the purchase.
He had written on sheet of legal |
cap paper kind of will, disposinge of
his property and stating some reasons
for his suicide. This he had pinned |
to his shirt front. He purchased the
paper on which this was written at
Stewards drugstore Wednesday.
The excuses made for his rash act
were that he had been censured for
selling his farm and for going into the
saloon business, and had never been
happy since the death of his wife,
During the day Wednesday he call
ed at the B. & o. telegraph Office and
sent dispatch to Louisville concern
ing some beer be had ordered, COM
planning of a delay in its shipment
He leaves two little girls, one four
teen and the other ten years old. In
the paper above alluded to he gave
one of them his watch and the other
the piano, and left them to the care
Of SISTER Fannie and Brother Irving
His property is in a very confused
state, but it is thought that enough
IAN be saved to provide for the chill
lren.
His remains were taken to Spring
icld Friday morning for interment
Reckless Shooting.