Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1930-03-20
CLARENCE Nj. RICHARDSON,
DESPONDENT, TAKES LIFE

1
Mr.. Clarence NJ Richardson, a
prominent farmer of the Cheneyville
vicinity, Malta township, took his
/ life Wednesday afternoon. The meth
cd used was monoxide poisoning. He
was found about 4:30 o'clock by his
son Harry, aged II. On his return
home from school, the boy hearing
the motor of their Chevrolet coach
running in the closed garage, went
to the building, and opening the
door saw the form of his father ly-
| ing on some sacks of feed, near the
exhaust of the machine. The boy
| telephoned for help, and Dr. Nor
thrup of this place was summoned.
When the doctor arrived it was dis
covered that Mr.. Richardson had
been dead more than two hours.
Coroner Carl Miller was called, and
gave as his verdict that death was
due to suicide by monoxide poison
ing. Mr. Richardson had been at
home during the day In the morn
ing he took his wife and their little
daughter by buggy, out the dirt
road from their home, to the pike,
where they were met by Mrs. Rich
ardson's father, 1. III. Shilling, OF
Malta, and the three went to the
home of Mr.. Shilling daughter, Mrs.
Chester Newburn, near Chesterhill,
to spend the day. Mr.. Richardson
returned to his home. Because OF
the bad condition of the road lead
ing from the pike to the Richardson
home, arrangement was made by Mr..
ID Oh, hot hn h
wife and daughter with their buggy
at the pike and take them home in
the evening. Mrs. Richardson, her
daughter and father were waiting
, for him to come at the forks of the
road, as designated, when word
came to them of the death of Mr..
Richardson. Investigations showed
that he had rather carefully planned
the deed. He had used empty sacks
to stop up the cracks about the door,
and along the floor of the garage,
: in order that the deadly gas might
be retained in the building. He had
filled the radiator OF the machine
with water and started the engine,
which was running at a good speed
1t would appear that he had seated
himself on the feed sacks, and as
soon as he lost consciousness he
fell forward, and when found was
lying on his stomach, on the sacks.
He had eaten his dinner, and no one
had been with him, after his family
left in the morning. He had gotten
his mail as usual and had opened
it. 1t is believed death came about
2 o'clock. 1t is stated that the de.
tr
! ry over very trivial matters, and or
late he had complained of his head
bothering him, and was frequently
very melancholy. When he began
plowing this spring, he told his wife
| that he would never live to see the
fplowing finished. His constant wor.
ry had brought on a temporary fit
of insanity His worry was uncalled
! for, it would seem, since he was III
good condition from a financial
standpoint, in every respect, and his
home life was everything that one
could desire, for happiness and con-
tentment. 20
| Mr.. Richardson was Al years of
age. His parents are Harland d.
and Emma Murphy Richardson, OF
Bloom township, the home place be-
| ing not far from Mt Zion church.
There he was reared and was resid-
ing on that place at the time of his
marriage to Miss Pearl Shilling,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. l. H.
Shilling of Malta. About six years
ago they purchased of Mrs. Rich
ardson's parents their farm, where
the deceased and family have since
resided. Besides his wife and par
ents, three children survive-Rus-
sell. aged IA years, sophomore in
M. e M. high school, Harry, aged
IL, and Mary Louise, aged two
years. He also leaves one brother.
Edward, who resides on the home
place, East Bloom, and a sister,
Glenna, wife of Paul Bone, near
Malta. He was a member of the
McConnelsville M. E. church. and
of Malta grange. The deceased was
a good farmer, Industrious, and his
tragic death comes as a distinct
shock to his many friends and ac-
quaintances, who extend coincidence
to the grief stricken family. A
particularly sad feature in connec-
LlOH Will Iut uCdtu Is luC ldCL tIdt
his father who has been in poor
health for long time, is now very
critically ill.
Funeral services will be held Fri
day afternoon at 2 o'clock, at the
home of H. C. Shilling, McConnels-
vile, conducted by the pastor of the
deceased, Rev. c. w. Stoneburner.
Interment will be made in McCon-
nelsville cemetery.