Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-07-15
SlJICIDE IN BETHEL,

Will Brison, the 17-year-old son of
Mr. Robert II. Brison. who lives in
Bethel township, on Glover r. +. D..
No. 3, near st. Paul's church. about
eight miles north Of Yorkville, commit
ted suicide yesterday morning at about
o'clock by shooting himself i'm the
head with a 32-calibre pistol.
The first news of the tragedy that
came to YOrkville involved confused
story to the effect that the killing was
probably n murder, committed by a
negro farm hand, and presuming on
such a possibility, a representative Of
The Enquirer went to the scene to as
sist in gathering the facts and fitting
together the circumstances.
1t appears that the boy was alone
at the house. His father was in York
vile on the jury, his sister Mary was
at Glover, and he had spent the night
with neighbors. He went home from
Mr. d. f. Jackson's at an early hour
to look after the live stock. and it was
while on this errand that he commit
ted the fatal dead. A negro named
Robert Henry, who lives on the Bri-
son place. some distance from the
house, testified that he heard the young
man calling him in a distressed man.
ner. and shortly afterward there was
a pistol shot. His wife advised him
not to go to the house, and instead he
went after some of the neighbors and
brought Messrs. Dave Patton. Alex
Cook and D. F.. Jackson. who came to
the yard, but did not go into the porch.
Mr.. Henry Merritt was the first in
dividual to view the body. He found
young Brison lying on his back, his
right arm underneath his body, pis-
tol under his hand. There was a bull
let hole i'm the centre of his forehead.
and all the indications were that death
had been instantaneous.
1t was known that young Brison
had had a difficulty with Robert Henry
some two or three weeks previous, and
the first comers were inclined to sus-
pect foul play. They were not certain
that the story that Henry was telling
them was exactly straight; but on
looking about further, Mr.. Merritt
found tackled up on the door inside the
house, a note that cleared up the sit
uation completely. The note reads as
follows:
Dear Father and Sisters: I am not
well this morning. l have almost cried
my life away. 1t seems to me that
life is no more to me. God in heaven.
forgive me for what am going to do.
would like to stay with you all, but
my work is too much for me. Every
thing is dark to me. Oh God, l can't.
am going home to meet mother.
You all be good and ready to meet me
in heaven. May God bless you all.
Forgive me. Oh, God I must CO."
This note was unsigned, but the
handwriting was easily identified by
the young mans sister as his own,
and this left no doubt that the killing
was suicide.
The young man is survived by his
father, Mr.. Robert H. Brison, and two
sisters. Mrs. Robert Barnwell of York
vile, and little Miss Mary Brison,
aged about years.
Mr. Robert II. Brison is an intelli-
gent farmer, in comfortable circum-
stances, who enjoys the respect and
esteem of all who knew him. He is una
BILE to give any theory as to the cause
of the suicide other than is suggested
i'm the note above, and all who are best
acquainted with the circumstances
look upon the note merely as evidence
of temporarily disordered mind.
The funeral took place at Glover
yesterday afternoon, the services be-
ing conducted by Rev. DR.. r. NJ. Ste
VenSOn