The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-12-03

| 1 ne CONFUSION was so SCrOng tlaC IL
arrested him in his progress and he
stood dead still. Soon he inquired for
some antidote. A second spasm came
over him stronger than the first. The
employees called Clerk Mccall and he
summoned DR.. Finn, and while the
latter was being summoned an at
tempt was made to force something
down Shea's throat to kill the effects
of the poison.
"Never mind me-" was Shea's reply.
"Just tell the Doctor when he comes
to give me something to stop this
awful pain. I wont be able to say
anything to him."
Shea was carried into an adjoining
room and placed on bed. DR.. Finn
arrived few minutes later and at
once forced down Shea's throat several
different liquids to destroy the effects
of the poison. But the dose of strych-
nine was too large, and twenty min
utes after DR.. Finn arrived Shea was
dead.
Coroner Gibson was Immediately
notified, and after making careful in
quiries into the facts leading up to the
death, decided that an inquest was
unnecessary-that it was deliberate
case of suicide. He searched the
clothing of the deceased and the first
document found was the letter written
in the saloon the night before. 1t
was addressed 'To the Public" sealed
and placed in an outside pocket of the
coat. 1t showed intended suicide, and
was as follows:
Redwood Falls, Nov. 27.
When I write this I think of nothing
but the good times I had in days gone
by. 1 have determined to close up
everything on this earth; I presume
the papers will come out and say
there is another maniac; that is not
true. I do this, knowing very well
what am doing. I am not drunk
I am in my right mind. When I am
gone the world will go on just the
same.
Good people, I die just as I lived
1 have not done right in this life o1
mine, but will take my chances in the
world to come. I have no more to
say. Please don't let my folks know
anything about it. Well, Good bye
l remain Yours truly,
CHARLIE SHEA
Other letters were found on the
person of the deceased. One was from
a young lady in Detroit, Mich, gently
censuring him for not having enclosed
the first sheet of letter previously
written to her. Another was from his
sister, residing at Weston, Mich. This
was written with lead pencil but the
handwriting was perfect, and it told
of various instances going on at home
Another document found was an acci
dent insurance policy in a Detroit in.
surance company. This policy only
covered men in the actual employ oil
railroads, and stated that for 50 SO the
bearer was insured from Oct. 5, 1895
and in case of death, resulting from
a railroad accident, the sum of $5OC
was to be paid to NJ. j. Shea, who is
father of the deceased, and who is a
barrel manufacturer of Weston. The
father was Immediately notified by
wire and the remains we're placed in
charge of local undertaken.
Early Friday evening Shea was in
company with the girls of the hotel
He pulled revolver from his pockets
at that time and brandishing around,
said that it was the instrument which
would end him, and that it would do
''its work ID quick" A boarder
at the hotel got him out of the room
but could not get the revolver away
from him.
Shea came to Hotel Francois early
last summer. He was a pleasant
young man, and while behind the
hotel counter, was unusually 80, max
ing friends for the hotel at all times.
In the Office he never seemed despon-
dent, but on the contrary, always
seemed to look on the sunny side of
life. 1t was when he was alone, occu-
pying chair in the Office during the
late hours of night, that despondency
would come upon him, and life's cloud
would look darkest. Even then he