The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-10-27
Gilbert Gagnon Suicides in Olympia.

HAoCit dRuou, Well-knOWn EN-
ploye in the logging camps OF this
vicinity, committed suicide in the
Carlton House at Olympia last Satur-
day evening, but the discovery was
not made untllSunday afternoon. when
the news was telephoned to his friends
in Shelton. The Olympian contained
the following account of the deed, cor
rect in most particulars:
On Saturday evening well-dressed
stranger entered the hotel Office and
asked for room. On being assigned
to No. IL he registered as G. Gagnon
and said he would at once go to his
room. A few moments afterwards he
went out and almost immediately re-
turned, assembled the stairs with a
package in his hand, and that was the
last anyone saw of him ulive. About.
Z O'Clock Landlord Gimb1et and a
friend heard loud noise on the second
floor and Mr.. Gimblet started to inyes-
tigate, but no thought of suicide en-
tered his head and he finally returned
to the hotel Office, thinking the noise
came from the outside. On Sunday at
noon the man in No. IA had not arisen
and it was concluded to allow him to
sleep awhile longer. AT 3 O'Clock it
was determined to investigate why he
did not arise, as it was then thought
he might be sick. Standing on
chair, Clerk Nice looked through the
transom into the room and saw a ter
rible sight. Gagnon was lying dead
in corner, an immense army pistol
resting against his body and bullet
hole through his head. Blood was
spattered on the walls and on a table
near by and on the floor there were
pools of blood.
Coroner Hartsock was at once sent
tor and on his arrival closer examina-
ton of the man and room was made.
There was no doubt that Gagnon had
killed himself. He had stood up in
front of window and alongside
mirror, placed the barrel of the gun
against his forehead just over the
nose and fired. The ball went through
his head, came out at the back and
went through the window, tearing
away piece of the sash on its course.
His death must have been 1nstantane-
Gus. as the pista1 he used was a 44-cali-
Der of the Marlin & Hubert pattern,
an immense weapon. The hole made
in his head by the bullet was almost
half an inch in diameter, and the bull
must have had considerable force
after it left his head, judging by the
piece of wood it tore out of the window
sash.
An undertaken was called IN and the
body taken to Bates Bros parlors.
Here coroner's jury was summoned
and an inquest held, A search of the
body was made and two $40 gold pieces
and two receipts for goods bought at
Shelton were all that was found on the
suicides person. One receipt was to
the dead man and the other to Miss M.
Ganyer. Up to this time the indemnity
of the suicide had not been established
but Chief of Police Savidge brought
w. k. Early, citizen of Shelton,
who Immediately identified the man
as Gilbert Gagnon. Mr.. Early stated
that the suicide had worked for long
time for Thomas Bordeaux as foreman
of camp in Mason county, but of late
had been employed by Mark Draham.
On the testimony given the jury re-
turned a verdict that Gagnon had come
to his death by his own hand.
From Shelton parties it was later
learned that Gagnon was sober,
steady and popular man in Mason
County, where he had worked as fore
man of Bordeauu's camp for several
years. He was the uncle of Mrs.
Thomas Taylor, of the Westside, and
had no other relatives in this country
He was of French-Canadian birth, and
was about 80 years of age. He was of
quiet disposition and very sensitive.
For some time before his death he had
been engaged to be married to young
woman in Shelton, but on Friday last
for some unknown reason the young
woman had broken off the engage
ment. She had made known to Gagnon
her intention in very brief letter.
He was cast down by the information
he received, but he wrote in return
very long letter to the girl. The next
day he came to Olympia and here end
ed his life. His friends state that the
rejection of his suit by the young
woman added to another matter IN
which female relative was concerned
undoubtedly caused him to brood to
the extent that he became temporarily
crazed, and while in this condition
made away with himself.
His suicide, however, was d very de-
liberate one. About $50 o'clock Sat-
urday evening he went into Mills &
Cowles' store and asked tor pistol.
He was then as cool and collected as
any customer that ever came into the
store. He was shown 44-caliber pis-
toll and said he would take it. as he
was going out cruising and wanted
just such big gun. Purchasing also
box of cartridges he left the store
and went at once to the hotel, where a