The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-09-25
SHERWOOD A SUICIDE.
ENDS HIS LIFE AT HIS FARM
NEAR SANTA ROSA CALF.

ENDS HIS LIFE AT HIS FARM
NEAR SANTA ROSA CALF.
On Sunday last, the clerk OF the
Rathdrum camp. NJ. w. OF A.. re-
ceived e letter from the clerk OF the
Santa Rosa camp, California, inform
Ink him Of the death, by suicide, Of
Chas. L. Sherwood at bis home near
Santa Rosa, Saturday. Sept. Il2. The
funeral took place there on Sept. IA,
under Woodmen auspices. His wife
and two children survive him. Mr..
Sherwood had been q member or
Rathd-um Camp 6S43, M. w. A. for
nearly four years, having passed the
limit Of three years, under which his
benefit certificate, amount $1,000,
would have been void under the cir
cu.stances. He was AZ years Of age
and had lived at Rathdrum for many
years, before he went to California
last fall. His estate here, includes
20 acre farm on the foothills north Of
town. S&
The following clipped from Santa
Rosa paper, dated Sept. IS, describes
the tragedy: asa
Sitting In chair in bedroom In
his home In Rincon's Valley several
miles from this city, with his breast
barred and the muzzle Of 4 shot gun
placed against his heart, Charles L.
Sherwood ended his life in q tragic
manner on Saturday morning. He
probably touched the trigger with his
foot. The charge from the gun In
fiicted terrible wound and death
must have been almost instantaneous
1t is supposed that despondency over
financial and family matters led him
to send the fatal bullet on its mission
OF death. Coroner Blackburn held an
inquest and the jury found that the
deceased came to his death from the
effects of gunshot wound, self In
flicted with suicidal intent.
At the time Of the deed Mr.. Sher
wood was all alone in the house. Mrs.
Sherwood had left home about eight
O'Clock and had come to Santa Rosa.
The deceased after sending his little
son to mail letter In box some dis
tance from the house, took his life
before the lad returned. When the
boy cime in he was horrifled to find
his fathers dead body on the foor ia
a pool OF blood. The alarm was
quickly given and a ncighbor, Mr..
Seeman, went hurriedly to the house
and found Mr., Sher wood as described. !.
Sheriff Grace was at once commune
Gated with and he informed the coro-
ner. The way In which the news
reached here 1t was uncertain then
whether 1t was case of suicide or
murder. When Sheriff Grace drove
to the scene Of the tragedy he was ac-
companied by Deputy Sheriff Pirzzi
and the bloodhound. When the house
was reached 1t was ascertained that
the deceased had committed suicide.
Several notes were found which the
dead man had penned evidently just
before he died. One of the letters, a
lengthy one, was addressed to his wife
and was couched In affectionate terms
throughout. It concluded with fare
well "till We meet In Heaven" The
deceased told his wife that he had
always tried to lead a Christian life
and asked her to bring up their chill
dren properly and as Christians. In
the letter he also explained how she
would flnd business matters.
The manner In which the deceased
wrote to bis wife, that is, the evident
affection expressed In his words,
would seem to Offset In a measure the
belief held by some of the neigfIbors,
brought about, 1t is said, by words
from the deceased's own mouth, that
his family life had not been as pleas
ant as 1t might have been.
He also left fatherly note to his
little daughter Ruby, and to his son.
He urged both children.to lead good
lives and become true and upright
citizens. He told each that they
would receive thousand dollars OF
the insurance he had In the Modern
Woodmen's order. Other notes were
left to the neighbors thanking them