The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-06-22
DEATHS HARVEST.
John Frances Warfield.

Mr.. John F. Warfield, who lived
about three mics from Columbia on the
Pulaski pike, shot himself in the head
Sunday morning about 4.30 O'Clock,
and died in a few minutes thereafter
from the wound. One of the children
was sick, and he had been up once or
twice during the night giving medicine.
About o'clock he got up, gave the
child dose of medicine, dressed him.
self and went out to the barn. In few
moments those of the family who were
awake heard a pistol shot. His wife,
fearing an accident, or divining rather
the dreadful truth, ran to him and
wrapped him in her loving arms; but he
was unconscious, and never spoke, and
in few minutes breathed his last.
That the deed was the respondent act
of demented mind, there can be no
reasonable doubt. When a youth, some
sixteen or eighteen years old, he was
thrown from horse, and his skull was
badly fractured. For thirteen days he
was unconscious, and for two years he
was so weak minded that he was kept at
home. When the accident happened he
had reached Latin in his studies
and was reading in Virgil; when, at
the end of two years, he starred
to school again, he had to begin with his
b c's. From that shock his mind never
entirely recovered though it only mani
tested its weakness at times. Usually
he was all right. but he was subject to
fits Of melancholia, and at such times inn
agined that he was at fault for every
thin. that want wong. H, wonld &C
crse and denounce himself and declare
that he was not worth living.
Some two years ago, nearly all the
hogs and cattle on his place were killed
by being fed rotten ensilage. That
seemed to undo him, and since then he
has been morbid and morose a great part
of the time Last winter some of the
members of his family decided that il
would be best to send him to an asylum
for the treatment of mind diseases;
but while corresponding with the doc
tors about the matter, and trying to de-
wise way to persuade or fool him into GO
ing, he became interested in his farm
work and so much more cheerful that
the purpose was postponed. But sat
urday he was discouraged again. His
wheat had been blown aud beaten down
by the rain, he thought, worse than
that of other people; his corn was
choked with grass; his machine was
driven into tree and broken; it was + is
old bad luck pursuing him, he said,
aud though he gave no sign or threa'
he passed a restless night and rose early
and his life was sacrificed to his disor-
dered mind.
Words cannot tell the anguish of heart
caused by this deplorable act. Neither
can words tell the deep sympathy loving
hearts give out to the distressed family
brothers, sisters, children, heart broken
wife, and patient sweet old mother, who
nursed him b lck to life when the cruel
blow firsC came, and loved him most
perhaps for the sad consequences of the
fall. May the comforting assurance
that the responsibility was not his, give
them hope, and may Gods grace
strengthen them, that "they through
faith and patience may inherit the pro-
misses"
Deceased was the son of Mrs. Cornelia
Warfield A brother of Me-srs. Seth
w. and Wiley Warfield and Mrs. S. S
Fleming and Mrs.W j Alexander. About
twenty years ago he married Miss Mary
McLemore, daughter of Mr.. Robt. w.
Mckemore, deceased, then living near
Spring Hill. His wife and four children,
two girls and two boys, survive him. He
was a member and regular communicate
of the First Methodist church of this
city, and the funeral services were con-
Quoted at the residence Monday at
3 O'Clock by his pastor, Rev A. p. Nc
Perrin, the following named friends
serving as pail bearers: Jno. ID. Dobbins,
W b Dobbins, l.. p. Padgett, r. G..
Irvine, G. T. LoCney, Henry Alexander.