The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-04-22
DELIBERATELY
PLANNED T0END
HIS TROUBLES
Fred Whitehurst, Sick Of Body
and Mind, Laid Suicide Plans
With Much Forethought

Fred Whitehurst, 64 year-old
Elizabeth City mail carrier who
tied his own hands and drop
ped headfirst into 10 feet OF
water in knobbs Creek within
few feet Of the intake OF the
city's water supply Tuesday
had planned his suicide Tor
davs. in the opinion OF rela-
tivcs.
il was a deliberate and carefully
planned act of self destruction. A
few days before his slicid" ne gave
his valuable diamond ring to
sister. Mrs. A. G. Bell. He had
some new carrier uniforms which
he gave to fellow carrier. Edhle
Gregory. Other personal valuabies
and the keys TO his safe deposit
box were left carefully in sight
in his room.
And then. saying no word to any
one. he went ont to knobbs Creek
bridge beyond the city limits, tied
his hands deftly. using slipknot
which he frightened by drawing
with his teeth: laid his hat ana
some papers on the bridge where
tbey would be discovered and his
suicide suspected and dropped into
the dark juniper stained waters 0i
the creek.
i, The hat was picked up by color
cd labOrer in an automobile bonnd
| for Gates County and the cOlorcd
man never suspected that it was the
sign of tragedy. 1t WAS not until
Wednesday morning that the police
found the body sticking head down
in 16 feet Of water.
It was peculiar suicide and
Fred Whitehurst waS peculiar
man. He came TO Elizabeth City
from the Berea section of PasqUo-
tank County % years ago and took
a pOsitiOn as clerk-carrier in The
post Office. He was a man OF Few
words aud quiet habits. lie never
married. displayed no interest In
women and talked little with men.
He had no pronounced habits or
hobbies. lie loved his pipe and was
fond of books. Except for the little
money he spent for tobacco and
books. he was thrifty. lie mixed
little in the world and the world
had little that he wanted. He had
a few thousand dollars when he
came TO town :he invested this and
his savings in: city property and
hid acquired ,mich property from
which he derived IN income more
thall: ample for his modest wants.
In addition. he had just been pen
stoned by the government and had
received his first pension check
only a few days before his death.
But two years ago he grew tired
and i'll. He thought he was scrl-
onSly afflicted. Doctors could find
little ailing him. Last October he
left the postofficc. deeply concern
led aboui his health. 4 Richmond,
Va. specialist told him be had
SYMPTOMS of an liberated stomach.
The fact preyed upon his mind:
few months ago he resigned his job.
No wife. no home Of his own maxi
ing. no children. no dependents, no
crOuies, no responsibilities. nothing
to do but 10 lounge around i'm dis
comfort waiting for death, he re-
solved 10 cheat life of its terrOrs.
And he left no word of explanation
or apology: the world had never
understood him in life and he prob
ably reckoned that it wouldn't I'M
derStand in death. Maybe he
Thought il was none OF the worlds
business anyway.
The deceased is survived by
sister, Mrs. w. g. Ferebee with
whom he made his home. 10y broth
or. Gale Whitehurst. and II sister,
Mrs. A. &. Bell. both of this city.
4 number of nephews and DieceS
survive also. among them being
City Manager II. W. FercBGc, of this
city. Graham and Allen Bell, also
I0f Elizabeth city, W. ii. Jennings
Jr.. of Iowa. DR.. &. G. Ferebee, of
MOrphead City, and J. l.. ferebee,
,.f IiIunulan