Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-09-28
TAKES HIS
OWN LIFE
Mason GudoelI Shoots Himself Through
the Head Early Friday Morning
and Dies Instantly.
DEsPoNDENT FROM SICKNESS
Deed a Great Shock to His Family
Who Thought He Was in Better
Spirits Than for Some Time.

Mrs. Robert Gudgell, Of this city, shot
himself through the head at his home
on Fourth avenue AT 4 O'Clock Fri
DAY morning. The cause Of the deed
WAS in all probability dependency due
to i'll health.
Mr.. Gudgcll had been in possession
Of 4 i5-calibre revolver for n long time
and was in the habit of keeping it
near him. Several weeks ago, how.
ever. he had given il to his mother
to keep for him, being afraid possibly
that he might harm himself with 1t,
and she put il away where she thought
he could not find it. Mrs. Gudgell
does not know when he r%egained pos
session of the gun.
On the night of the shooting, Robert
Gudgell, Mason Gudgell's father, was
unwell and could not sleep. He was
up at intervals during the night and
at $3.50 in the morning passed his
sons window and saw him sitting on
the side of the bed. On entering the
house he told his wife that Mason
was not yet in bed and at about 4
o'clock Mrs. Gudgell went TO her sons
room TO see if anything vas wrong.
She had been in the habit of going
to his room as he sometimes fell
asleep without being properly cover
ed. ON entering the room she saw
him lyIpg on the bed and thinking the
position he was in vas an uncom-
Portable one she took hold of his hand
10 awaken him; MS he did not awak-
on She put her hand under his mead
To raise him and discovered a pool oil
blood ON the bed spread. She scream.
I'd aud Mr.. Gudgell Immediately came
! in. II was evident AT once that Mason
was dead.
shortly afterward NiGhtwatchman
Walter Gooch arrived, having been at
| trcted To the house by Mrs. Gudgells
scream. lie found that the ball from
the heavy revolver had passed entire
ly through the head and 1t was his
opinion that Mr.. Gudgell had died al
most instantly. The strange thing
about II was that no n me
report of the revolver, although MI.
and Mrs. Robert Gudgell and their
daughter, Miss Jessie, were all in the
house at the time.
The %corOner's inquest was held al
the Gudgpll home AT 10 o'clock Fri
day morning and the jury brought IN
a verdict of suicide. w. T. Mcrar
land acted as coroner and the jury
consisted of Grant Robinson. Jake
Harmon. ]. S. Boone. Matt Wannebo,
Tim Moran and Albert Winston.
Mr.. Gudgell was apparently feeling
much better Thursday than he hau
becn for some time. He mas been MI
well for years and for the last Tour
months has been unable TO do any
thing and has scarcely left the house.
He had expressed a desire TO attend
the fair Thursday and as this was the
first time he had cared TO leave the
house AT all il was thought that ne
was feeling much better and he was
taken to the grounds Dy Ed. Wright,
On returning he seemed to be In good
spirits and retired to his room early
The sudden death of her son was
a great shock to his mother, who Is
very low as a result. She has the
deepest sympathy of her many friends
here.
Mason Gudgell was the only son oil
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert GudSell. He was
81 a of age and was born near
Chillicothe. Mo. lie had been a resi-
dent of Iewistown for is years. For
the last few years he has been SICK
ly and has done little work, although
he prospected in the mountains 10
some extent. D.,
The funeral was held at h Gudsell
home on Fourth avenue at Two ocloch
Saturday afternoon. The Rev. VA
Winters conducted the services. The
pall bearers were X. A. Hankc' Johh
Raw, James Weaver, J. G.. BebO, j. .
Boone and G.. b. Stuart. The Durlal
was in the Lewistown cemetery.