The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-10
Al HIS FATHER-IN-LAWS
DRINKING TO ENCEsS. NERVES
ALI. JTNSTRUNG.
He WAS GREATLY BELOVED BY ALI
Il Was Suicide The Ceiling spattered With
His Brains Statement Made by His
Father in Law. Remains to be
Carried 10 HamI.t.
Carried 10 Haml Il.
Charlotte News.)


This morning few minutes after city
court had convened. "A messenger APP
preached Chief Orrs desk and in IN
excited end hurried whisper Informed
him that white man named Mr.. Dan
iel y Brown. who is son-in-law OF
Mr.. George j. Freeman, had just COM
mtted suicide mt Mr.. FreemanS resi-
dence, which is located on the corner
Of Twelfth and Caldwell. Chief Orr
ordered out the patrol wagon ana III
company with Officer Jetton and It
News reporter, was rapidly driven to
the scene.
A large crowd Of people flor news Of
this kind spreads rapidly had gathered
at the house, and ii was with some dif-
fcultv that tho repcrter and DIR
Strong. county physician. who had III
SO been hastily SEN for, could gain IN
entrance 10 the room where the traged"
had occurred As the writer entered
the room the sight that met his eyes
was indeed horrible. showing beyond
any doubt that the victim had well
planned his death. Blood, hair and
brains were scattered all over the room
and on the top of the wall brains and
hair had stuck where they were car
ried by the shot Mr.. Brown when
first discovered was lying face down
across a chair. his head and arms touch
ing the floor on one side and his feet
on the other. Investigation showed
that Ills death was caused by the dis
charge of double-barrel shot gun.
which was resting between his legs. he
evidently having fallen in that position
when the gun was discharged. The
load Of shot struck him near the front
and left Of his neck. and came out just
in front Of the left ear. completely
blowing off that side of his face.
Chief Orr. in the presence of several
witnesses. picked up the gun and throw
ing open the breach. removed the shells,
one of which had been discharged.
1t was the opinion of all who saw
the remains that Mr.. Brown had COM
mitted suicide and that it was not al
accident. judging from the position he
was in: he wasg andng erect at the
time the fatal. shot was fred holding
the gun in front of him and pulling the
trigger with his right hand.
Mr.. &. j. Freeman. fafher-in-law Of
the deceased. was interviewed by re-
porter and gave the following informal
..J-p To three months ago my home
was at Hamlet. n G. Mr.. Brown was
my son-in-law. having married my
daughter fifteen years ago. His wife
Is dead and his children. three little boys.
have been living with me since her
death. Abonf fifteen days ago
Brown passed through Charlotte en-
route to Tennessee. v; ere he went to
visit relatives, returning here Wednes-
day night. He had been drinking heay-
iIy For the mast TWO weeks, but since
Friday morning he complained Of feel
ing bad and said he thought he would
90 10 bed and rest awhile YESTERDAY
afternoon he did not seem TO be ans
better. so | sent Cor Z physician. Last
night after / had eli sed ND my store
which adj inns my residence, went in
ia his room. which Is III the back part
of the horsa. and ia Ia, TO Brown fer
!, few minur <. lie remarked to me that
he was nervous and did not feel sleepy.
told him 10 go Ia bed. as / thought he
would eel better il ie could get some
sleep. AFTER | had left his room and
gone into my own roem and retired. L
heard Brown Is,lotk ut lig door. Call
ing to him to 0pen the door he came
IN and stood npsby the lire. as he was
n his night clothes and said he was cold.
After standing there a few minutes.
he turned toward me and said; Mr..
Freeman. there IS some one who is
talking outside of the house and they
will moi 20 away. ! started to get up,
saving | would see il could hear anT
one talking. | could not hear sound,
Notwithstanding that he insisted thar
come one was talking in a loud tone.
4 4 4. II hn fpat AZ
door no demonstrated with me and said
4 would be dangerous. Seeing that
Brown was excited again went to his
room with him and stayed there until
no had gone TO he'd. This morning
ahout {; o'clock Brown came into my
room saving he wanted to warm his
feet. sitting down. by the fire and stay
inc FIVE or six minutes. MY wife and
myseIf got IN and dressed. Brown
AGAIN came back and. complained of be-
INC sick. | gave him some medicine and
went into the store to open up. Al
breakfast he would not eat anything,
saving he was not hungry. lie left
the table and returned to my room, and
again entered the store and 1t was
then that | heard the report OF the gun
Rushing into my room / found Brown
IN the position he now occupies.
Mrs. Freeman's statement was about
the same as that of her husband: Il
noticed that my son-in-law was acting
strangely yesterday afternoon and es
necially this morning. lie tried TO gel
Is 10 leave the room early this morn
ing. and every time | would find that h,
was watching me closely only left
him for a few minutes ana u was dur
mo ty,is time that he committed suicide
/ am satisfied that his object in wantin.
ms 10 leave the room was because Ia
d;a nor want us to interfere with hi
nlnns for self-descruction.
The deceased is native of Rich
mond county. and is about IS years .
nee. Mr.. +. c. Guthrie. Of this city
SAYS he knew Brown well. and that Il
ono time he had been very ,hssipated.