Amador ledger., 1906-07-20
C. B. HUNTING COMMITS SUICIDE.
By Shooting Himself in the Head.


Chester b. Hunting, an old resident
of near jackson, was found dead,
lying on bed in a small house he
and his wife we're living in on the
ranch of John Andrews, his son-in-
law, about five o'clock on Sunday
evening. The deceased formerly
lived near Butte mountain, on the l6O
acre tract he has owned there for
about 20 years. He and his wife
lived there alone, since his children
we're grown up and married. The
weight of years pressed on him as he
was over 80, and rendered him in
capable of attending to the work of
the ranch. So some time ago he
rented his place to Harvey Pense,
and the aged couple went to live in
small house about mile above
New York Ranch, on the ranch of j.
Andrews. On Sunday last Mrs Hunt
ing prepared the breakfast and after
the pair had partaken of the meal,
Mrs Hunting went up to the Andrews
residence, as her daughter, Mrs
Andrews, was sick IN bed. Before she
wentsC. B. Hunting tended to the
horse he had, and then left the place.
He. appeared to be as cheerful as
usual, and talked over tine breakfast
table. On reaching the Andrews
house, Mrs Hunting found her hus-
band there also. 1t appears that
some time during the day the old
man left the Andrews house, and
returned to his own residence, mile
away. What time this was Mrs Hunt
Ing, who was the only witness
examined at the ooroner's inquest,
could not say. About five O'Clock
Mrs Hunting returned home to pre-
pare supper, and found her husband
lying on the bed dead. At first she
thought he was sleeping. But on a
closer examination she discovered
that he was dead, and a pistol beside
him, and a gunshot wound on the
head told the story of suicide. He
had talked of committing suicide,
several times. Some three weeks
before he took some morphine tablets,
so his wife testified, with the in
tention of putting himself into the
sleep that knows no waking. The
reasons he gave for wishing to end
his life we're that his health was fail
ing and he was unable to work. Upon
realizing what had occurred, Mrs
Hunting returned to the Andrews
house, and John Andrews and his
son in law repaired to the scene of
the suicide, and notified the authori-
ties.
Coroner HubeIty held an inquest
over the remains the same day,
before the following jurors: Fred b.
LeMoIn, Geo. j. Tucker, James A.
FIaherty, w. Radovich, Alvin Penn
berton., W. j. Leavy, W. Ii. Shaw.
The verdict returned was that he
came to his death from a gunshot
wound inflicted by his own hand with
suicidal intent.
1t seems that deceased left his home
for the Andrews place Immediately
after breakfast, for the purpose of
getting some tools. Having secured
them he at once started homeward
John Andrews passed by the house
about nine O'Clock. and saw him
there. The old man was near the
house, and inquired about some stray
calves that we're in the inclosure. He
passed the place again on his home
ward journey, and failed to see him
at that time. 1t is thought that
the suicide was committed in the
forenoon. The body was cold when
found, indicating that death had
ensued several hours. The pistol was
held over the left temple, short
distance from the head, as no powder
marks were visible. The bullet went
through the head, struck window.
and fell on a table, where it was
picked up. Death must have been
almost instantaneous.
This was the third attempt he had
made at self obstruction. He was not
of respondent disposition. He had
been suffering from chronic trouble,
and the future held no hope of reIiet.
With tllis prospect he believed, and
in fact told his relatives, that death
was preferable to life of pain.
The funeral was held on Tuesday,
the remains being inferred in the
Pine Grove cemetery.