The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-08-19
ILY ILLS.
Orleans Suicide Identified As
Amite City Publisher.

Capt. l. Burton Davidson, owner
and publisher of III the Amite City
Florida Parishes, Md brother of
Capt. J. G. Davidson of this city,
mitted suicide in New Orleans
ly after midnight Friday, Aug.
shooting himself in the right
Ne with a revolver. The deed
5 committed on lumber barge
bored at the head of Common
rect, and as Capt. Davidson had
akmoved from his pockets and cloth
1g everything that would give an
Snkling as to his identity, the body
WAS conveyed to the morgue, where
it remained until Tuesday morning,
when Identification was made by S.
L. Burton, linotype operator on the
Florida Parishes, and John Sterrett,
representative of the Mergenthaler
Linotype Company's New Orleans
agency, who had sold Capt DAVIDSON
linotype machine. The body was
turned over to the P. 81. Mcmahon
Undertaking Company, and after be-
ing embalmed and prepared for burial
was shipped from New Orleans We'd
nesday night to Morristown, N. j.,
where it will be inferred in a family
plot. . Capt. Davidson was member
of the Masonic fraternit@, and the
disposition of the remains was at
tended to by members of that order.
Up to he time of the big storm Of
September, 1915, Captain Davidson
was a schooner proprietor and cap
tain, having followed the sea for
many years. While weathering the
gale in the Gulf Of Mexico he was
hurled violently against the wheel
post Of his vessel and probably sus-
tanned internal injuries that left him
an easy prey to stomach troubles,
for which he had been receiving
treatment at the Touro Infrmary in
New Orleans for the past tive months
After apparently recovering from
the immediate effecteof the injuries
sustained in the storm, he sold out
his marine interests and settled down
in Amite City, where his son-in-law
aud daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. John A.
Keagy. had recently taken up their
residence. At their solicitation, it is
said, he purchased the Florida Par
ishes about six or eight months ago.
The investment proved a losing one,
and it is believed that worry over his
financial losses, coupled with despon-
dency because of his physical condi-
ton, are the reasons which caused
Capt. Davidson to end his life.
He was last seen by his daughter
Sunday. Aug. 6, when he left Amite
for New Orleans. Having read the
description of the man who shot him
self on the river front in the latter
city the night of Aug. II. and not
having heard from her father since
his departure, Mrs. Keagy asked Mr..
Burton, the linotype operator, to Wis.
it New Orleans and see if the body
in the morgue was not that of her
father. Mr.. Burton got Mr.. Sterrett
TO accompany him, and as soon as
they looked at the body they identi-
fed it as that of Capt. Davidson.
Deceased was a native of Della
ware. and was 70 years of age. Dur
ing June and July he spent several
weeks here as the guest of his broth
er, Capt. John G. Davidson, and by
reason of his attractive personality
and gracious manners made a number
of friends who were profoundly
shocked to learn of his tragic demise.
Capt. J. G. Davidson was notified
of the Identification of his brothers
body Tuesday afternoon, and went to
New Orleans the following morning
to make arrangements for disposing
of the remains, returning to Donald
sonville Thursday forenoon. His le-
gion of friends here and elsewhere
extend him heartfelt sympathy in his
bereavement and share the burden of
his grief.