The Anaconda standard., 1899-05-16
A DELIBERATE SUICIDE
w. G. Cole, an Old Timer, Start
led the Community.
RASH ACT UNEXPLAINED
The Horrible Discovery of One of His
Sons-Klled Himself in His Own
House and It's All a
Mystery.

William G. Cole one of the best
known mechanics Of the camp, and an
old-timer of the days of '65, committed
suicide last evening at his home at No.
305 West Quartz street by placing a
shotgun against his heart and touching
the trigger with his toe. The suicide is
one of the most inexplicable that has
ever occurred in Butte. In independent
circumstances, in his usual good health
and spirits and, as far as any one
knows, with no reason in the world for
wishing to end his life, the old man,
without the slightest intimation that
anything was wrong, went to his home
and took his life. The members of the
family are not able to offer SO much as
conjecture as to what could have
prompted him in the awful deed.
Cole lived with his wife and youngest
son, Harry, in comfortable home at
the place mentioned. During his long
residence in Butte, always holding lu-
crative position, he had acquired a
competency and, being in no financial
difficulties. he had no occasion to worry.
His health was good and while around
home yesterday morning is said to
have been in the best of spirits. In the
afternoon both he and his wife were
down town, but not together. AS he
was in the ha bit of getting home early,
the wife expected to find him when she
got home about 20 minutes to clock
III the evening. and was considerably
surprised when she did not find him
there. Soon after Mrs. Cole arrived
bone Abe Buoll. an old friend from the
Bitter Root valley, came in and sat and
chatted for while. A few minutes be-
fore 7 o'clock the son, Harry, came
from his work at the Parrot smelter. He
sat down and chatted with Mr.. Buoll
for time. After a while both he and
his mother commenced to feel worried,
IL was so unusual for the old gentleman
to stay away so long. Finally Harry
decided to look around and see if his
ia ther was not somewhere around the
house. The upper story of the house is
I'LL furnished. and just what prompted
him to think that he might find his
father there is not known. but some
thing guided him thither. In a little
bare room on the west side of the house
he found his father lying on his face on
the floor. Beside him lay double-bar-
rei-1 shotgun, which told the story,
Harry went down as soon as he salts
fled himself his father was dead, and
gently as he could told his mother what
had happened. Mr. Buoll had gone in
the meantime and neighbors were sum-
mohnd, who took the grief-stricken wife
to the home of another son, and Coro-
ner Julien and Undertaken Sherman
Were notified.
Upon his arrival Coroner Julien
found the body lying as described. 1t
was fully dressed. except that Cole had
taken off his shoes, which We're found in
| corner On examining the gun it was
found to contain one empty shell. 1t
was T. gun which belonged to Harry and
| was slways kept In a closet downstairs.
Death was undoubtedly instantaneous.
An e7 aminat ton of the house, as we'll
| as the dead mans clothes, was made
| for a note or something to indicate a
motit. for the terrible act, but nothing
was t,und, and the members of the
| famil! told the coroner they could not
even supply a theory. After the coro-
| ner's investigation was completed the
! body w,s removed to Sherman's under
| taking rooms, where an inquest will be
held this evening.
Willia N G. Cole was SO years of age.
| He was born in London and came to
| America at an early age. He came to
Montana in 1865 and had resided the
greater part of the time since then in
Butte. For years he was the master
mechanic for the Anaconda and later
went to the Parrot in the same capacity,
| where he served two years. He owned
a ranch in the Bitter Root valley, near
| Corvallis, and two years ago he left the
| Parrot company and moved to the
ranch. Last November he returned to
| Butte and resumed his residence at the
West Quartz street home. He leaves a
widow and five grown children. They
are William H., employed at the cleo
trio light works; Harry j., employed at
the Parrot smelter; Mrs. Louisa Boiler
residing here; Walter r., who lives on
| the Bitter Root ranch, and Frank j,
who lives at Bridger.