The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-05-27
SUICIDE IN SUMTER.
Mai. H. F. Wilson, Master in Equity,
Takes His Life.

SSASAJs H. - vvAASOAAS ~'H~~
Takes His Life.
A special to The State of Wednes-
day says:
Sumter was shocked this morn
ing to hear that Hon. H. Frank Will
son had killed himself. At $3.50 he
was sitting in his Office in the court
house talking with his father when
he rose from his chair, stepped into
his vault and pulled the inner door
to. In a minute his father heard a
pistol shot. 1t was few minutes
before the vault door could be open
ed and Mai. Wilson was then found
stretched on the floor with pistol
ball through his right temple. Death
was instantaneous.
''It had been noticed by his COM
panions in the court house lately
that Maj. Wilson did not seem HIM
self. His father was with him yes
terday and noticed that he was so
nervous that he determined not to
60 to his <home in the country, but
spent the night with his son. He
says that nothing in the majors
manner or conversation this morning
gave him any intimation that he was
contemplating suicide. 1t was un-
doubtedly a case If temporary insan-
ity. About a year ago Mrs. Wilson
died, and Maj. Wilson has not been
in good health for some time and ne
evidently was depressed.
His death will be source OF sor-
row to hundreds of friends, besides
his surviving relatives, his father, B.
F. Wilson; his brothers, Rev. B. F.
Wilson, NJ. B. Wilson and A. F. Will
son, and his sister, Mrs. Moultrie
Reid, Mrs. H. L. Shaw and several
other sisters.
"He had no children. Maj. Wilson
was 81 years Of age.
''The death of Maj. H. Frank Will
son this morning was the greatest
shock and occasioned more pain and
surprise than anything which has
happened in Sumter in many years.
Everybody's Friend.
major Wilson, as he was most
familiarly known, was everybody's
friend. Within his big and noble
heart there was naught but love and
goodwill for his fellowmen. Sum-
ter county suffers a heavy. loss by
his untimely death. He was in
tensely patriotic and his love for his
native State and county knew no
limits. He was a loyal member OF
the "old guard" the "'76 Democ-
racy," and former teacher. He was
not one who sought worldly riches,
nor political fame. Retiring in bis
disposition, modest as to himself, he
came to the front only in the defense
of his friends, in the interest of his
country and his State when duty call
ed him to the front.
ellis wife was Miss Georgia Law,
of Savannah. His great respect and
interest for his aged father and
mother and his sisters and brothers
Sovable character.
HE was one of the best known
and most popular men of South
Carolina. He was past grand chan.
cellor of grand domain, Knights OF
Pythias of South Carolina, former
member of the general assembly OF
this State and a member of the ju-
dietary committee of that body, was
mayor and alderman of Sumter for a
number of years, leading member
of the Sumter bar, and was master
in the equity at the time Of his
death. He was captain of the Sum
ter Light Infantry for years, and
! made a popular and efficient com
manding officer.
There are few men who held as
close a place in the hearts of his fel-
low citizens as did H. Frank Wilson
as his was life that was full Of no
BILE deeds.
i"The funeral will be held at the
residence of Mr.. M. B. Wilson at II
o'clock Thursday. Gamecock lodge,
No. II, Knights of Pythias, will have
charge of the services at the grave.
The Sumter county and city officials
will attend in body.
'tMaj. Wilson was born near May
esville, Sumter county, June %,
1854. He graduated at Davidson
College. He taught school for a
number of years and then began the
practice of law, wherein he has dis
tinguished himself. He was popu-
lar Free Mason and was consistent
member of the Presbyterian church. y