The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-18
WORRY over
DEBTS CAUSE
OF SUICIDE
Charles II. Barron
Left Note Saying
Insurance Was Only
Way to Pay What
He Owed

| Way to Pay WHAT
| He Owed
Columbia, Nov. 14.rLeaying
note beside him saying that my
life Insurance is the only way can
pay those owe" and that "I have
done my best" Charles n. Bar
ron. Columbia lawyer, and fnan-
fcier, about o'clock this after
noon sent bullet crashing through
his brain which snuffed out life
brilliant with achievement during
its short forty-two years.
The deceased selected as his
death couch pine carpeted thick
et. fringing the placid waters OF
sylvan pond owned by him four
naiies north OF the city where he
and his friends were wont to be-
sport themselves with fishing.
bathing and dancing in the days
that are gone.
j. II. Lee, caretaker Of the pond
and surrounding preserve, saw Mr..
Barron in his death throes immeS
diately following the crack Of the
revolver that sped its deadly mis-
sile. %
Shortly before noon, according 20
the time estimate of Mr.. Lee. Mr..
Barron passed the Lee residence.
alone in his automobile. and waved
his hand to J. w. Lee, son OF the
caretaker, and went down toward.
the pond: Mr.. Lee said that when
he came TO his house for dinner:
his children told him that Mr.: Bar.
ron had gone to the pond. When.
he finished eating and resting
about an7hour, he thinks, aftersMs
Barron appeared; Mr.. Lee went To-
the pond to have talk with him
He said that as he approached.
| the club house he saw Mr.. Barron
to the, right, just beyond q small
green outhouse sitting in his shirt.
sleeves beneath a small pine tree.
Tie did not know II Mr.. Barron saw
him. = Just as the green clubhouse
obscnred the range of his vision.
he said. he heard the sharp report
Eof. a revolver. He hurried around
the slIosfsss zHds sew ,Mr. Baron
.s1efking. his arms quayering. and
the blood gushing from his ear:
He Immediately hurried for help.
When 4 vieWed shortly Afterwards.
the body was lying ON the back.
with stts legs stretched OF. @ild
the arms thrown to the side. 30 the
left of the body, midway between
the hip and the knee and near the
left hand, was .32 calibre re-;
wolves, foaded with new cartridges
and one empty shell. The bullet
which caused.d death entered The left
ear. Mr.. Barron say his, friends,
| was,.ambidex :s 80.
About three feet from the body
was the coat of the deceased with
his hat resting on it. In the hat:
pras the note and over. the hat was.
spread a. ashandkerchief This note.
! lin reality three separate notes. was
written on the back Of a use6 let
ter-s sheet and the Handwriting and
signature have been identified by
associates. as that Of Mr.. Barron.
The note read as follows:
/ sli-l4s22. My life Insurance IS
the onlE way have to pay those
owe, I have done my best
/ -{Signed) 'Chas. H. Barron.
Be s,irs and ge, return prem
inms on policies less than year
esigned) &c. H
Please ask my good friend y
Belser to have my loyal friend and:
partner. J.s Nelson Frierson. apy
pointed administrator. My estate is
solely liable for the firm debts. as
all Others, were on a salary basis
and know nothing Of my trouble of
the condition Of inancies.
| tSignedJ .Chas H. Barron. " = s.
According to the best available
information to be obtained tonight.
Mr.. Barron has approximately
}sl5a000 In life insurance. Judging
from the note left by him some of'
the policies are Of recent date ana
contain the anti-suicide clause
stopping payment No estimate
| could be made of Mr. Barron's In
Edebtedness.
The note was given out tonight
by one Of Mr.. Barron's law part.
ner, j. Nelson Frierson, whom It
requests. to be appointed as sd-
ministratorz to wind ap the estate.