The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-05
OUR PROSPERITY LETTER.
Details Of the Suicide of DR.. John A.
Harmon-The Third Occurrence of the
Kind in Five Years-Other Mat
tiers of Interest.


ity, like all historic towns and place
is noted for as many things Of as man
different natures and classes, but tn
keystone to this great arch seems
be that, according to population, it
becoming noted as q fit place to con
init suicides If there is such a fasc
nation around here l don't happen t
Know it, and hope if there is that
won't visit our house.
Three suicides have been committe
or performed) here in little less tina
i've years. First was Wilhelm Wal
ers, German who had contracte
With Dave Suber, near Walton, t
work as a farm laborer for the yea
( $50. \ dispute arose, and Wilhelm
Walters concluded that he would di
.efore he would 60 back to live wit
,ir. Suber, and acting upon this con
:lusion, be obtained rope from
eighhoring we'll and hanged himsel
rom a beam in Wheeler & Moseley'
mill.
The next victim was a man liviu!
with Col. \. H. Young, whose race wa
not quite as white as some people
faces l know, had some trouble will
his Ethiopian wife and concluded tina
be would swing his head to q pine
limb, which he did, and went ths
way of all flesh. Some people
whose faces are something like An
thongs think they have met him or
dark nights since, but guess Anthony
don't want to trouble any of them, and
if he did I don't suppose he has any
time to spare.
SUICIDE OF DR.. JNO. A. HARMON.
Our third case of suicide was that OF
DR.. John A. Harmon, a dentist who
was well known not only in Newberry
County, but also in Lexington and
Edgetield. He committed suicide at
his home here on Friday night, or
rather Saturday morning.
| did not attend the inquest held by
Coroner BUST on Saturday morning,
hence I will not weary you with the
prolonged evidence as ELECTED from the
witnesses at the inquisition, but will
simply givea statement of facts as mar
rated to me by Mrs. Fannie Harmon,
wife Of the deceased, with whom 1 had
a talk very early Saturday morning.
First, the writer saw DR.. Harmon on
Friday evening at the Prosperity Hotel;
spoke to him, Good evening, doc
tori; response, "Good evening, Capt.
Whites" He seemed very calm. A
short time afterward 7 saw DR.. Har-
mon in front of r. l.. Schumpert's
store, where was talking to John w.
Smith. DR.. Harmon asked Mr.. Smith
to 60 home with him and spend the
night. Both left together-Dr. Harmon
riding, Mr.. Smith walking.
Before daylight news was received at
the Prosperity Hotel that Dr. John A.
Harmon had committed suicide. /
to the homestead and found
Mrs. Harmon, Mrs. Dominic.s and Mr..
John w. Smith at the house.
Mr.. Smith escorted me to the room;
viewed the BODY of Mr.. Harmon; saw
Mrs. Harmon next; had a talk with
her, which is in substance as this: "Dr.
and l retire. about II O'Clock, after
showing Mr.. Smith his room. The
DR.. lay in bed a short time when he
concluded that he would get up and 90
TO his mothers in Lexington. l in
sisted that he remain at home until
especially as he had Mr..
Smith for company. He finally agreed
to wait until morning to go to his
mothers. However, he got out of bed
and dressed, putting on his boots, over
shoes, &C., and said be would 60 any
how, i. e. to his mothers. / again in
sisted that ne wait until morning. He
again agreed, and came to bed, un-
dressing and lying down naturally. !
noticed that his eyes were wild and
glaring and that he was not disposed
to sleep. 1 was overcome by fatigue
and fell to sleep. knew nothing more
until about 2 o'clock, when [ was
aroused or awakened by a deep CUR
Cling, or snoring sound in the house.
felt for DR.. H., he was not there. L
called Mr.. Smith, he awoke, went to
Mr.. Donlinick's, who lives near, called
Mr.. Dominick, who in turn called Dr.
Wyche. We found the room next to di-
ming room locked; heard heavy breath
ing inside; | did not 60 in; DR.. told me
not to 90 in" This in substance IS what
Mrs. Harmon says, except that DR..
Harmon had threatened to take bis
life before; said that he would perish II
he did not take his life.
Thus ends the life ola notable char
actel. DR.. Harmon has long been con-
sidered semi-lunatic.
Talking about suicides, it has oc-
Cured to me that the natural curiosity
of some men and women will lead them
so far as to become exceedingly anxious
to see how the other world looks.
Come back again they can't.
Gen. Y. J. Pope, our pleasant and
efficient Attorney General, rested IN
our town last night, the guest OF our
friend DR.. r. J.. Luther.
Miss Sula Rollison, of Newberry, ic
visiting friends in town, the guest OF
Miss Mary Kinard.
Mr.. H. R. Russell and family have
moved into the Bauknight house. we
welcome Mr.. Russell and family. Mr.
Russell has charge Of the construction
train on this part of the division.
Mr.. J. T. P. Crosson, and family are
moving to-day to LeWiedale, in Lex
ington County. We will miss bis
familiar corporation.
Mr.. Simon Sheppard one of our ole
friends is on visit among US.
Plenty cotton and little money for it
but it comes all the same, and Franz
Lane and Kennie Baker, who bott
know "some thingsn and Messrs. Bow
ers and Boozer who know agreat many
things vie with each other in seeing
who can give the biggest price for th'
least cotton. The only reason that th'
name of Messrs. BooZer and Bowers
was not mentioned last week in connec
ton with the cotton buyers was, tina
it seems to be an established fact tina
they are men who know great man,
things" and are known of, and known
by every body who sells cotton, buy
fertilizers, sugar, molasses, &c. 1t wa
thought to be a solid fact, that thes
"latter day gentlemen were known al
over this glorious land of OUTS, and ha'
not "departed these coasts"
Kick; Some people will kick If th'
were going to beer garden or be hun;
or, any where else. l wish 1 was
kicker-I'd kick harder than null
~. IL <Nf hut