The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-11
THE TRoUBLL ENDED.
Suicide of Il. ID. Featherly, OF Butte, n
His Wife's Presence.

Suicide of t. ID. Featherly, OF Butte, In
His wife's Presence.
BUTTE, June lO.-[Special to the lnde-
pendent l-At O'Clock yesterday after
noon T. ID. Featherly walked into his
wife's candy store on West Granite street
in partially intoxicated condition. There
are three rooms in the building-the store
is in the first room, reception room back
of that and kitchen in the rear. Mrs.
Festherly was in the kitchen and walked
into the middle room 70 meet him, and ex-
changed a few words with him in regard
to his belongings, which he had requested
her 10 get together for him. She had
scarcely began talking TO him when Mr.. j.
K. Wharton. with his wife and child, en-
tered the store TO purchase some confec-
tionery for the little one. Mrs. FeatherIy
came into the store TO wait on them and
had left the reception room but a moment
when pistol shot was heard. Instructive
Iy divining the calamity, she cried, my
husband has killed himself" snd ran into
the next room, accompanied by Mr.. Whar-
ton. Mr.. Featherly was lying on his back
on the sofa, and on his breast was the
mark where a bullet had entered. A small
thirty-two-calibre revolver was lying on
the floor at the side Of the sofa. He was
gasping for breath, and only said: "Oh my,
Oh myp' A medical man was quickly
summoned, but Mr.. Featherly was dead
when he arrived. He lived only about
three minutes after firing the fatal shot
The bullet entered about the center OF his
breast, and ranged upward through the
right ventricle of his heart, lodging against
the ribs.
Coroner Howard summoned a jury at 8
O'Clock. The witnesses examined were
Mrs. Nancy l.. Featherly, J. p. jackson, J.
X. Wharton, Mrs. A. Patterson, K. Gray,
DIR. Mcclure and Raley. In addition to
the facts related above, Mrs. Featherly
testified that her husband was a very dis
sipated man, so much so that she had ap-
piled for a divorce from him. He had
threatened to suicide before, and on one
occasion she had taken a revolver away
from hun.
j. p. jackson testified that Featherly had
been with him since Thursday and had
been drinking heavily. Yesterday after
noon he asked Jackson for a revolver, but
this was of course refused him. He then
wanted money to buy a revolver, but this
was also refused. Where he finally did
get the revolver is uncertain.
t. ID. FeatherIy was 80 years of age and
had been resident of Butte for the past
six years. He was a cigar maker by trade
and quiet man, inclined TO be desperate
when drinking heavily. He was married
and had two children, both girls, one OF
whom died suddenly about two months
ago. He was q member of the A. o. u. w.
The jury returned = verdict of suicide.
This morning when DIR. Thomas examined
the effects OF the deceased he found
3 letter in one of the pockets. 1t was en-
closed in white envelope and directed to
Mrs. L. ID. Featherly. The date was June
and the letter read as follows:
"My dear wife: 1 cannot live without you,
80 am going TO die. Forgive me for all
the wrongs | have done you. From your
sffectionate husband,
T. ID. FEATHERLY."
"Have me buried beside Eva and from
my home and that will end all the trouble.
Kiss me when 1 am gone"
The Eva to whom the letter referred
was the little daughter Of the deceased.
The request of the deceased to be buried
By her side will be complied with. The
arrangements for the funeral have not yet
been made, but it will probably occur To-
morrow afternoon.