Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1926-06-26
W. H. SCHOOLFIELD
MEETS TRAGIC END
HERE MONDAY
Community Shocked When News OF
His Dealt Is Received; Motive
For Deed Unknown
PROMINENT In BUSINESS
AFFAIRS OF POCOMOKE

5Ns 10 say CndC CLlS etANpIhuHlty WAS
shocked, when the news of Harry
Schoolfields tragic death was carried
to the people is putting it mildly To
many, it was Unbelievable and even
yet almost impossible of realization.
The circumstances surrounding the
actual deed are few; the conditions
and impulses leading up to it may
have been many and may have ex-
tended over a long period. His se-
crets probably died with hsh.
Between 2 and 7.30 o'clock last Mon
day evning, Russell E. Matthews and
James F. Dryden, employees of Mr..
Schoolfield's corporation were sum-
moned to his office in the Peninsula
building. On arriving he told them
that he was Withdrawing from the
servic of the Electric and Ice Manu-
featuring Co.; that that evening was
his last. He designated Mr.. Dryden
to be general manager of the company
and Mr.. Matthews as secretary and
treasurer.
Only few more words passed be-
tween them, when he walked to the
rear of his store, where he has a
screened private Office. Facing the
! two men with the remark that, "This
is the only way out of t,"he fired the
fatal shot, before Mr.. Matthews and
Mrs Dryden could interfere, and fell
1he floor. Physicians were sum-
al ed as quickly as possible but death
been practically instantaneous.
y eoroner's jury was summoned,
the verdict of which was that the de-
ceased came to his death as the result
of a bullet fired into his head from a
revolver held in his own hand.
sIr. Schoolfield was the son of Eli
jah ]. Schoolfield, this city, and the
late Mrs. Schoolfeld, and was about
AZ years old. In his immediate fami-
" he leaves widow and five children.
His connection with the Clarke family
on his mothers side, and with the
Schoolfield family surrounded him
with large coterie of relatives, who
are deeply grieved at his untimely
end, His father and one sister, Mrs.
Robert Lane, Of Dallas, Texas are
also the more immediate connections
who survive.
No motive can be ascribed for the
self-destruction. Financially, the COM
pany was strong; socially he had a
family to whom he was devoted and
( who reciprocated to the full. In
health, he had no organic trouble; and
altogether, few had life more worth
living. He was man of strong intel
lect, fine business capacity, favor
ite with his employees, and successful
in the management of the corporation
of which he was part owner and di-
rector.
He was member of the Rotary
Club, the Knights of Pythias, Chamber
of Commerce, Mason of high stand
ing, and man of influence in the
community. What there was to urge
him on to his last act, no one knows.
He will be missed as son, brother,
q husband, father, friend, and public
spirited citizen. -
Funeral services were held Thurs
day afternoon at the house conducted
by Rev. J. w. Jones and Rev. E. l..
Bunee. Interment was made in the
M. q. cemetery.
The pail bearers were: James F.
Dryden, j. Frank Wilson, Clarke
Fontaine, H. Merrill Walters, Alan
Schoolfield, Russell E. Matthews.
His funeral was largely attended
and the floral offerings beautiful.