The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1911-01-26
ENDS HIS LIFE
WITH 45-GUN
Geo. Hawley, the well Known
White Bird Stockman,
Suicides.

On Monday morning of this
week George Hawley, one of the
well known and highly esteemed
ranchers and stockmen Of the Sal
mon river country, took his own
life at his home, one mile east of
White Bird, while laboring un-
der mental alteration, superin-
duced, it is thought, by despond-
ency over family troubles. A As
calibre gun was used in the execu
ton of the deadly work, the shot
passing entirely through the head
from its entrance just above and
back of the right ear and lodging
in the wall. The muzzle of the
gun was held so close to the head
that there were no powder marks
therefrom and the skull bones
were crushed into bits from the
fearful impact.
Sheriff j. 1. Overman and Cor
oner Blake on notification went
Immediately to the scene of the
tragedy and fully investigated tn
circumstances surrounding the
case, and upon presentation of
the accumulated facts to a jury
composed of George Behean, X.
P. Nash, j. E. Preston, T. ID. Gal
loway, G. w. Dunham, III. E..
Smurthwaite, James Lennon, w.
A. Newman and f. G. Painter, a
verdict of suicide was rendered.
The investigation brought to
light the fact that deceased and
wife, who have not been living
in harmony for some time, had
mutually agreed to separate with
out court proceedings, and divide
up the property, and trip to
Grengeville for that purpose had
been decided upon for Monday
morning. For that purpose Mrs.
Hawley and her brother Louis
Bedford, who with the father, A.
w. Bedford, were at the Hawley
home, arose early and prepared
breakfast. On being awakened
by the wife in the room up stairs
where he had slept with two of
the boys, Mr.. Hawley told her to
go on in the buggy with the
brother and he would come on
horseback and overtake them at
the top of the grade.
A short time later ,at the hour
of eight o'clock, the boys went
to the room to awaken the faith
er and found him dead, lying half
dressed across the bed. The eld-
er Mr.. Bedford and eleven year
old sister were called, and the
latter was at once dispatched to
White Bird with the startling in
formation and soon a number OF
the leading citizens of that city
were at the Hawley home. The
officers at this place were at once
notified and Mrs. Hawley and
brother were intercepted by tele'
phone.
In the clothing of deceased wa:
found a bottle of laudnum, from
which a portion had been taken
this in connection with the state
ment which Mr.. Hawley had made
to Attorney C. T. Mcdonald, will
whom he and Mrs. Hawley were
in consultation at this place last
week regarding a division of prop
erty interests, that he had abou
concluded to lend it all by kill
ing himself" is confirmatory o.
the other evidence and the pre-
vailing belief that the rash ac
had been contemplated for som,
time.
Deceased was some As years o
age, and has been a resident o.
this section for some % years
He is survived by the wife AM
four children, ranging in age fror
three to eleven years, and his ag'
mother, who but few weeks ag'
went to Santa Rosa, Calf, AM
his half brother Rufus Hawley
who rseides in Santa Rosa.
Mrs. Hawley and the children
are well provided for, having be
sides the home ranch some 81
600 of personal property, anotl
er large ranch. Deceased also cal
, ried $1,000 insurance in the "
> o. w.
, The remains were brought t
! Grangeyille Tuesday by Under
] taker Graham and Chas. Miller
and were held at the undertal
J. ing parlors until Wednesday a
: ternoon, when they were laid t
rest in the Grangeville cemeter!