The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-11-09
OVERWHELMED BY TR0UB.
LES
"Tish" Addison Committed Sui
eide, Monday

CIuCI A1Ouudy
About 3 p. M, Monday, r. c..
Addison, Familiarity known as
"Tish", committed suicide by
shooting himself through the head
with a 3S-calibre automatic pis-
toll. The tragedy occurred in the
office of the Gulf Refining Co. on
the city dock few minutes after
his arrest by Deputy Sheriff Thad
Carlton of Arcadia, on a warrant
charging him with completely in
the famous bank robbery at
Homestead on the East Coast
The warrant was sworn out by
Sheriff Dan Hardie of Dade coun-
ty, and charged Addison with
having hired and instigated
Frank Rice and his companions
to perpetrate the robbery.
A second warrant charging
"Tish s" brother, Locke Addison,
with the same offence, was
brought down by Deputy Carlton
and served by Town Marshal Lip
Scomb. While the marshal went
to arrest Locke, Deputy Carlton
went down on the dock to arrest
"Tish", who, upon being served
with the warrant, asked for few
minutes in which to go into his Of
fee and arrange his papers. His
request was promptly granted and
he entered the office, where his
books and papers were kept. Mr..
Carlton remained outside. In less
than minute, he heard the report
of a pistol and the sound of fish S
body falling on the floor. He had
placed the pistol against his fore
head and fred, the shot causing
instant death.
Justice Trabue impaneled a jul
ry and held an inquest. The yer,
dict was in accordance with the
above facts.
The tragedy caused a great sen
sation throughout the town. Il
was undoubtedly provoked by
an accumulation of troubles begin
ming over a year ago, when tn,
Addison brothers were arrested OF
charges of having burned the fist
houses on the railroad dock. Theil
prosecution on these charges fore
ed a very heavy expense upor
them and naturally caused them 6
great deal of worry. This trouble
lpreyed heavily on Tish's mind
and when this second one came
it was evidently more than he
could bear.
Very few, if any of our citizens
believe that the Addison brothers
had anything, either direct or in,
direct, to do with the Homestead
bank robbery. To many the idea
seems ridiculous.
Besides two sisters, two broth
ers and a number of other kin
bred, fish Addison leaves a widow
and a bright little son, who have
the deepest sympathy of the com
immunity.
He was born at Fort Ogden a
bout thirty-one years ago; spent
his boyhood days and grew up il
Punta Gorda; and, by hard work
and close attention to business
was getting along in the worlC
and prospecting until the trouble,
mentioned came upon him. Fol
some years past, he was the trust
ed agent here of the Gulf Refining
Co. About twelve years ago, hC
married Miss Ella Cochran, 8
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Cochran
of this place. He was tenderly
devoted to her and his little son
Joe.
Monday evening, his body Wa'
prepared for burial, and, on Tu
esday morning, funeral services
conducted by Pastor Sistrunk O
the Methodist church, were hello
al the Addison home on Gross
street and Virginia avenue. The
casket containing the body was
covered with beautiful flowers, TIT
tribute of sympathizing friends.
After the services, the body wa
placed in an automobile, and car
ried to Fort Ogden and inferred
in the family burial lot there.
Thus ends one of the saddest in
cidents in the history of Punti
Gorda. 1t has brought deep grie
to many relatives and friends. AL