The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-06-17
BOY SUICIDED.

Gersham Fendelson Took His Own
Life in Cranky Village.
AS the result of unreQuited affec-
tions, Gersham Fendelson, a young
white man about "a years Of age,
took his own life last night Coroner
Walker was summoned at 1870 this
morning and after viewing the re-
mains decided that a formal inquest
would be unnecessary.
A clear statement Of the cause of
the tragedy was given by Miss
Mamie Watts, who lives with her
stepfather, Mr.. Ferguson, at zoos
Wilson street, almost directly in the
rear Of the CRANKY Methodist church.
Saturday afternoon the young man
returned a photograph which she
had given him. He also sent her
word by her younger sister and
sought the return Of scarf pin and
ring which he had given the young
woman. She declined to return
them except to him directly.
Fendelson boarded with Mr.. Jen-
kins, whose house faces the street on
which the church is located, and the
back yards of the two houses adjoin.
He had been living in Columbia since
last February and came here from
Darlington. Rooming with him were
some young men whom he had
known. Yesterday afternoon while
Fendelson and some other boys were
looking at some post cards, he pick
ed up 80 calibre Colts magazine
gun and put it & his pocket, stating
that he had to so over on the Pal
metto mill hill in the evening and
some of the boys over there had it in
for him. The pistol belonged to Will
lie Minis, who was not in the room
at the time, and the other boys did
not stop Fendelson, for he claimed
to have permission to get it.
Fendelson went over to see Miss
Watts early in the evening and they
with her mother went to preaching
at the church on the Palmetto hill.
He talked to the girl but little and
was with her mother most Of the
time On the return to the house
the girl took of the scarf pin and
ring and offered them to the young
man, but he declined them, saying.
that he would never have any furthet
use for them. Miss Watts stated
that he seemed sad and spoke
strangely. Finally he took from his
pocket a photograph of himself and
said it was for the girls mother to
remember him by, as he expected to
die.
With that he walked out of the
house, and in a moment there was
the report of pistol. The girl call
ed her mother. She was not alarm
ed, but thought Gersham was just
trying to worry her: But the moth
er had observed with closer intui-
ton and declared her belief that the
boy had really harmed himself. The
girl went to the door with a lamp
and, peering out into the darkness,
saw the form of the young man
struggling in the death throes.
Thoroughly Mortified she then
aroused the neighbors, who summon
ed Policeman Salters from his beat.
The officer did not hear the report Of
the pistol as train was coming in,
but one of the watchmen in that
neighborhood told him that the re-
port was heard at Is minutes to 1
o'clock.
Coroner Walker examined the
clothes for any articles of value and
turned the body over to an under
taker. The poor boy was very well
dressed, and had a very pleasant
face. His mother, Mrs. Lily Fendel-
son, lives at Hartsville and will be
notified this morning as soon as the
telegraph Office is open.
The young men who boarded with
Fendelson were much grieved, and
one of them declared repeatedly,
HE will take to his grave a good
reputation" They said that the boy
was madly in love with the girl, but
she did not care 80 much for him.
The mother told Coroner Walker
that on the way to church he had
spoken desperately Of what he would
do to any other who should pay her
attentions.
The ball entered the right temple
and came out on the other side of the
head. Coroner Walker examined the
revolver, which was found in the
hand of the dead boy, and saw that
it had but recently been fred.-Co-
lumbia State, Monday, July IA.
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