The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-12-06
A Sad Suicide.
Newber7y Herald and Ncws, Nou. 90.

Our town and community was pain
fully shocked on Monday morning
when it was announced that Mr.. G.
Burt Reagin had committed suicide.
He was one of the most prosperous and
wcll-to-do farmers in the county. He
lived about four miles east of New
berry. The deed was committed on
Monday morning lust about sunrise.
He got up rs usual and went about his
feeding, and to 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 q razor by his side with which
he had cut his throat from ear to ear.
It was terrible ordeal for her
and her mother. The loving fa-
ther and husband dead and by his own
hands.
As to the causes which led up to
this terrible deed it is, Of course, only
matter Of conjecture, as he left no
writing giving his reasons, but it is
supposed that he allowed himself to
become alarmed about his financial
condition, though it was more imagi-
nary than real, for he was entirely
solvent, having at least property to
twice the amount Of his debts and
none Of his debts were worrying him
for immediate payment.
He owed possibly something like
$4,000 or $4,000, but had been reduc-
ing 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 for
him to have been worried about his
debts. Most of what he did owe was
due to the bank and they had been
carrying mortgage bhat he had given
on the land he purchased and they
were not pressing him in the least.
He had kept the interest paid and had
been reducing the amount of the
principal. 1t was only Saturday that
he was here and paid up note or two
that he owed.
He was one of those farmers who
always made something for sale, and
Saturday he was selling some sausage
meat. He owned some sixteen OF
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 be seemed to be low spirited still.
He went on the piazza, after returning
from visit to neighbor's and had a
wine glass; nearly full of laudanum
and gotit to his lips, buta 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
had this glass half full of laudanum
and started to take it. but when got
it to my lips I thought of you and
Marie and dashed it out" She talk
ed to him about the folly of any such
step, and cheered him up and at night
he seemed TO be in much more cheer.
full spirits and when he retired she
thought that the whole thing had pass
ed way.
His life was insured for $4,000
$5, 900 in New York Life, $4,000 in
Manhattan and $4,000 in knights Of
Honor.
1t is very sad case and we deeply
sympathize with the wife and little
daughter. His mind was evidently
unbalanced for he was in good circum
stances financially, and had pleas
ant and loving home. He was gooc
citizen and kind neighbor. A mar
who attended diligently to his own af
fairs. His remains were laid to rest
yesterday afternoon in the family
burying ground. The coroner held ar
inquest on Monday and the verdict Of
the jury was that he came to his death
by his own hand while in a state oi
mental alteration.