The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-21
COMMITS SUICIDE.
Mr.. A. E. Dargan Chief of Police of
Darlington, Kills Himself Sun
day Morning.

| The State.
Darlington, Jan. l9.-This morn
ing at 10 O'Clock the dead body Of
Mr. ~. f. Dargan, chief Of police,
was found in Il room adjacent to MS
sleeping apartments. His death has
'saddcned the entire community, Il
double SORROW being added to the
deep sense Of loss because of .he
tragic circumstances attending his
death.
The body. when discovered, was on
the Floor, Il bullet hole was in the
forehead. a revolver with one empty
chamber was near and death seemed
to have occurlc ed some hours before.
Mr.. Dargan attended to his duties
yesterday as usual, though mis- sister,
AT dinner, told him he seemed very
tired aAl that he should take some
much needed rest. As usual he was
up until ~ o'clock last night and be-
fore retiring, Mr.. Dargan instructed
Policeman Fields 'to call; him at 10
o 'clock this morning. At this hour
the dead body was discovered in an
nnoccupitd room across the passage
from Mr.. Bargains room.
Mr.. II. Applet occupies a room ad-
ioinin" Mr.. Dar@an's and he says
| Mr. Dargan was with him when they
went to their rooms last night. About
. or 3 o'clock in the morning Mr.
Applet Thought he heard the report
Of pistol, but thought nothing Of it,
The pistol found belonged to Mr..
Dar%an and was Smith & Wcsson
44-calibr2. Although the attendant
circumstances suggest that this was
suicide those who know Mr.. Dargan
can not reconcile themselves to such
an opinion. The coroncr's jury at
the inquest this after carefully con-
sidercd all the facts and the autopsy
has been held by DrS. Edwards and
Co""shaIl. The jury announced no
verdict, but adjourned to meet again
Thursday. in order to have full pos
session of all available information,
before announcing their conclusion.
Circumstances Indicate Suicide.
| There seems TO be no real reason,
at least so far as is now known, why
the suicide theory should be other
than matter of conjecture. The cir
cumstances seem, however. to indi-
cate that Mr.. Dargan took MS own
life, but no reason for this has yet
been found. The funeral services will
be held at the Baptist church tomor-
row afternoon.
Mr.. Dar"nn was a native Of Darl-
in"ton and was 50 years old and IN
married. For about The past 90 or
% years he has been chief Of police.
a position given him practically by
the entire community. Ills tragic
death will carry sorrow wherever he
was known. IT is not the culo"v Of
one VIII" knew and loved him to say
! that in ihis man the brightest attribu.
tc> of noblrst manhood found their
natural home. This is the literal
truth. His heart was loyal. SiradfaSt :,
true. Duty WAS the watchword VITA
! him always and to him the word fear
had no meaning. His COURAGE vas
splendid, making complete the cool,
self-controlled man, capable Of meet
ING any emergency. Of being Just and
fair to all. Love and sympathy
lived in perfect blend in his daily
life and these characteristics not on-
ly endcared him to his friends. but
formed bond between him and
those with whom he came in contact
in the dihcharge of his official du-
ties.
| Mover was there a more generous