Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-07-02
Hubert Devivier, Stricken With Par.
alysis and Despondent, Deliber-
ately Takes His Life.
HE LEFT NOTE TO THE PRESS
Disposed Of His Property Some Time
Ago and Stated That June Would
Be His Last.

IL was a gruesome sight that met
the gaze of George Jackson last Sun
day morning as he road along the
New Year road near the Devivier
ranch, and even the horse he was rid
ing could not be induced to approach
the dead body of Hurbert Devivier,
as it lay upon the roadside with its
skull horribly shattered by bullet
fired by the hand Of Devivier himself.
George Jackson was riding Sunday
along the foot hills of the Judith range
looking for range horses. About 10
o'clock he was proceeding along the
New Year road, about IL miles from
Lewistown, when he saw the body of
a man lying on the roadside near the
wire fence by which the road runs
along here. His horse became fright
ened and could not be urged to ap-
proach the body close enough to
identify it, but Mr.. Jackson could see
that the skull of the dead man was
horribly shattered, and that his blood
and brains lay scattered on the ground
near by. He at once came to Lewis.
town, arriving here about 1880
o'clock, and notified the county attor-
ney of the affair. County Attorney
Belden, Under Sheriff Slater, DR.. Fred
erick Treacy and Police Magistrate
MCGOWAN proceeded to the scene of
his discovery and found the body to
be that of Hubert Devivier, a prosper
GUS ranchman and one of the old time
residents of this part of the county.
Every indication pointed to the fact
that Mr.. Devivier had ended his own
life and Police Magistrate MCGOWAN,
acting coroner. empanneled a jury as
quickly as it could be done, and held
an inquest over the remains.
The testimony brought out at the
inquest showed that Mr.. Devivier has
been an invalid for the past six
months, having been stricken by
paralysis during the latter part Of last
year. Since that time he has worried
greatly over his physical condition
and has frequently threatened to
kill himself. These threats were
made so often that his family
had ceased to regard them seriously.
Sunday morning about 8 o'clock he ate
his breakfast, and his familythought
he had retired to his room, but 1t ap-
pears that in some way he had Sc
cured revolver, and instead of 60
ing to his room he left the house and
went out to the road about half mile
distant. Beside the revolver, he took
with him a small mirror. Arriving at
the road he hung the mirror on the
fence and evidently kneeled before 1t
so that he could see where he was d.
recting the shot that ended his life.
The muzzle of the gun was held di-
rectly above the eyes on the median
line. When found he was lying on
his back, the revolver nearby, and
the right parietal bone and half the
occipital were entirely blown away
from the skull and we're lying some
thirty feet distant. His brains were
scattered all around. and 1t was in
deed a most CHASTITY sight. His hat
lay close by, held down by stone.
Beneath it a letter sddres 'eG to the
papers of Lewistown was found,
which read: Endless suffering has
led me to this one half suicide. A
paralytic expects nothing but another
stroke. Mother Nature you are too
slow. so | help myself. Death only
occurs once. June the 29th, 1902.
Hubert Devivier. call this a half
suicide because / am half dead by pa.
ralysis." A small scrap of paper
written in French told that no one
person in hundred knew how to en-
Joy life. The deceased had told Mr..
Lucier, a neighbor. that June would
be his last month, and well he kept
his word. With this evidence the
corners jury readily arrived at ver-
dict of suicide. Mr.. Devivier had evil
IDENTIFY held this step in view for some
time, for a month ago he decided all
his real property to his children and
made preparations for his departure
from among the living. He was in
comfortable circumstances, being
worth probably 100000. most of which
was in realty. He had lived in Fer
gus county for some twenty years
and was until stricken by paralysis.
a strong, active man. He leaves a
widow and three children, son and
two daughters. all Of whom are
grown. Mr.. Devivier was about six
ty years Of age.