Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-02-18
W. B. Blu R PEE
COMMITS SUICIDE
Shot Self Through Heart---
No Cause Given For The
Act---Leaves dWife and
Five Children.

The city vas startled yesterday,
shortly after noon, when the re.
port started that w. =. Burpee,
foreman in the painting depart.
ment of the A. 3. & A. shops here,
had committed suicide Mr. Bur
pee was well and favorably known
aud the news spread like wildfre.
Mr.. Burpee went to his work ut
the shops in the morning but nc.
turned to his homo on Cypress
street near Lee, at about 1880.
He was unusually cheerful with
members Of his family but was
drinking to quite an extent. At
1920, CT whereabouts, two friends
called and after a brief converse.
ton with them he passed out of
the house into the back yard. He
remained outside for a few moments
and then went upstairs. Mrs. Bur
pee thinking that he intended tax.
ing a nap, called to him from the
foot of the stairs telling him to 60
into her room as it was warmer in
there, she then returned to the
dining room and in less than FIVE
minutes a muffled shot was heard.
Two of the younger children went
upstairs and saw their father lying
Oh the bed with a revolver, which
was still smoking held in his hand.
DR.. e. A. Russell was immedi.
ately summoned by telephone and
FASTENED to the house. Upon ar.
rival he found the body warm, but
death had been instantaneous with
the firing Of the shot. He had
evidently planned carefully to
make quick work, as he had
thrown back the lapel of his coat
and unbottoned his vest, holding
the muzzle of q 30 s. g. w. revol.
yer close to his breast. The ball
entered the left breast and after
penetrating the heart, lodged I'M
der the skin just above the right
kidney.
Coroner Mccormick was at once
notified and after impanelling
jury, proceeded to the scene. The
Jury after hearing testimony from
several, gave the following verdict:
eve find that W. r. Burpee
came to his death by his own
hand"
The jury consisted of: A. c. JUS.
tice, foreman, J. B. Seanor, Bert
Nicholson, 8. B. Billiard, Frank
Hager and T. M. Parsons.
Mr.. Burpee was about As years
of age and came here from Way.
cross, in 1906, When the shops
were removed from that place. He
is a native Georgian having been
born at Athens. He was an excel.
lent workman and a masterhand ID
management Of men. Numbering
those under him, without one ex,
ception, as friends. He was his
own enemy, for, like many men
while a b lie to control others
he could not control himself and
whiskcy had a hold on him SO
strong he could not break it. He
would frequently drink consid-
cradle and when under the spell of
liquor would be temporarily in.
sane. He had, it is stated, been
drinking to some considerable ex.
tent for the past two weeks. On
Sunday night, however, he attend.
cd the Central Al. E. Church
and at the close of the service
went forward and spoke to the
pastor. Rev. J. G. Flanders, and
thanked him for his sermon saying
it was the best he had heard in
years.
He was a member of the Hepta-
sophs in which society he was in.
sured. lie also caraied accident
Insurance but cannot recover on
the policy as it contains a suicide
clause. He also carried a policy
for $4,000 in the Phoenix Insur-
ance Co.
He is survived by his wife and
four daughters, Maud, Lena, Thel-
ma and Mary Lou and one son,
Charles, all at home.