The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-29
A SAD SUICIDE.
Mr.. G. Burt Reagin, a Prosperous Farmer
Takes His Own Life-Be Had Permitted
the Financial Striugency TO Prey
Upon His Mind Though Himself
Entirely Solvent.

Our town and community was pain
fully shocked on Monday morning
when it was announced that Mr.. @.
Burt Reagin had committed suicide.
He was one of the most prosperous and
we'll to do farmers in the county. He
lived about four miles west of New
berry. The deed was committed on
Monday morning just about sunrise.
He got up as usual and went about his
feeding, aud 10 put his hands to work,
while his wife went TO see after the
breakfast.
When breakfast was ready he did
not come in, and as WAS her custom
she rang the bell, and after waiting for
some time he still did not come. Be
coming alarmed they began search
for him. His little daughter was the
first to find him lying dead in his own
blood, some thirty steps from the house,
with his razor by bis side with which
he had cut his throat from ear 10 ear.
1t was terrible ordeal for her and her
mother. The loving father and hus-
band dead by his own hands!
AS to the causes which led up to this
terrible deed it is, of course, only a
matter of conjecture, as be left no writ
ing giving bis reasons, but it is sup
posed that he allowed himself to be-
come alarmed about his financial con-
dition, though it was more imaginary
than real, for be was entirely solvent,
having at least property to twice the
amount of his debts; and none of bis
debts were worrying him for imme-
diate payment.
He owed possibly something like
$4,000 or Sc, 600, but had been reducing
it year by year and had it in such
shape that he could easily have man.
aged it. This money was owing for
property he had bought. He owned
property to the amount Of at least
$4,000. So there was no reason forhim
to have been worried about his debts.
Most of what be did owe was due to
the bank and they had been carrying
mortgage that he had given on the
land be purchased and they were not
pressing him in the least. He had kept
the interest paid and had been reduc-
ing the amount of the principal. 1t was
only Saturday that be was here and
paid up note or two that be owed.
I1C was OuS VI luOoC l&i ulSlS uO
always made something for sale, and
Saturday he was selling some sausage
meat. He owned some sixteen or
eighteen head of mules and horses and
had sixteen to eighteen hundred bush
els of corn in his cribs.
But for some days he had seemed to
be in depressed spirits. He told a
gentleman in Newberry on Saturday,
with whom he was talking about the
hard times in general, that he had not
slept for two or three nights. On Sun
day he seemed to be low spirited still.
He went on the piazza, after returning
from visit to q neighbor's, and had q
wine glass nearly full of laudanum and
got it to his lips, but the thought of his
wife and daughter caused him to throw
it out.
AS he was returning to the house he
met his wife with the glass still in his
hand and said to her: "Janie bad
this glass half full of laudanum and
started to take it, but when I got it TO
my lips I thought of you and Marie
and dashed it out" She talked to>him
about the folly of any such step. and
cheered him up and at night be seemed
to be in much more cheerful spirits
and when be retired she thought that
the whole thing had passed away.
His life was insured for $4,000
$1,000 in New York Life, $1,000 in
Manhattan and $1,000 in Knights of
Honor.
It is very sad case and we deeply
sympashise with the wife and little
daughter. His mind was evidently
unbalanced for he was in good circum-
stances financially, and had a pleasant
and loving home. He was a good citi-
zen and a kind neighbor. A man who
attended diligently to his own affairs.
His remains were laid to rest yester-
day afternoon in the family bury ing
ground. The coroner held an inquest
on Monday and the verdict of the jury
was that be came to bis death by his
own hand while in state of III. ntal
aheraJi0n