The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-10-03
Prominent Cherry, Creek Man
Ends Life With Sryehnine
Z. Early Yesterday Morning

Brooding over his losses at gamb'
ling, and disguised with mankind in
general, William J. Grswold, a pros
porous rancher and sheepman al
Cherry Creek, took a dose of strych-
nine shortly after 3 O'Clock yesterday
morning and died in great agony
about two hours later.
The news of the suicide created a
sensation when the report of Girls
wold's suicide was circulated yester-
day morning. Griswold had been a
resident of the county for more than
twenty-five years, and besides being
well acquainted with the old resi-
dents, had made many friends among
the later arrivals.
Shortly after taking the fatal po-
ton Griswold sought for Police Of
ficer Norman, whom he had known
since boyhood days, and said: well,
Will, I've done it; I've taken strych-
nine Although the officer had
some suspicion of his intentions. he
was not willing to accept the state
ment as true.
A few minutes later Griswold en-
tered the Southern Club saloon and
invited several friends to have a
drink with him, saying: We'll, boys,
this is the last drink we'll have to-
gether."
While his friends were telephon-
ing to DR.. Adams, Griswold protested,
saying: Its no use; l have killed
too many coyotes with this stuff to
know its effect I've taken enough
of it so that all the doctors in the
world can't help me. A phial half
filled with s%trychnine was taken from
his person by Officer Norman after
he had taken the fatal dose.
Realizing finally that Griswold had
taken poison, he was taken to the Of
flee of DR.. Adams and an effort was
made to save his life, but without
avail. His sufferings were so in
tense and the commissions so fire.
quent that it required four men to
quiet him. So great was his agony
that he repeatedly called on his
friends to shoot him and end his suf-
fering.
Conflicting rumors were in circu-
lation yesterday as to the amount OF
money he had lost at gambling and as
to the manner in which he had got
ten rid of the money. Griswold re-
ceived 1900 in checks from John
Magnuson about a week ago from the
sale of lambs, and these checks were
cashed at the local banks. As he
had but SIS on his person at the !
time of his death it is supposed he
lost the balance gambling.
The sheepman had an intimation
tat he had been robbed by the men
with whom he had been gambling,
as the following farewell letter to his
wife and children indicated:
ITO My Dear Jane and the Kids:
LAS you know, came here on a
business mission. | got off to the bad
and got to gambling. There were
men who were not satisfied to have
me spend my money with them, but
they saw fit to rob me. | made up
my mind to kill them, but o nsecond
thought | knew the disgrace that
would be brought on the children.
Jane, you know what property you
have got. The deed for the land is
at the Henderson bank and yours Ior
the asking. | know you have plenty
for you and the children to live on.
l have stopped payment on a check
that | drawed because while | know
there are some gamblers who are
men the majority of them are after
your money any way Icy can get
it. | have made up my mind to take
my life rather than that OF another
for the sake of you and the children.
Jane, you no doubt w
hearted at my rash act, but | have
made up my mind that you and the
children will be better off in the long
run, as | have lost all faith in man
kind by some of their actions to-
wards me. Dear Jane, forgive me
and raise the children right. Good
bye, with love. ~lSigned:)
WILL"
An inquest was held before Judge
Beck yesterday morning and the jury
returned a verdict of suicide by TAX
ing strychnine. The testimony
brought out at the hearing showed
that Griswold had informed several
persons as early as II o'clock in the
evening that he was going to commit
suicide.
William BERTHE, a bartender in the
Cakes, was the most important wit
ness at the inquest. He testified that