The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-11-24
Crazed Assistant Keeper in Suicide al Lonely
 Cape Spencer
AFFIDAVITS TELL
 STORY OF DEATH
SIashed Throat While Ten der Approached 10
 Take Him Off

 ward H. Ford, 50, stood before mirror and slashed his throat with pair of scissors Tuesday after noon, ending a week of terror Tor two other Keepers at lonely, storm swept Cape Spencer light.
 The story of Ford's death and the progressive Arrangement which preceded it was brought to Juneau early today by the lighthouse ten- der Cedar in affidavits sworn be- fore Capt. J. w. Leadbetter by the two Keepers who lived with the crazed Ford, keeping him under surveillance and hiding implements with which he might do violence, while awaiting boat to take him off the Cape.
 Inquest in Progress
 A coroner's inquest into Fords death was being held by U. s. Com- missioner Felix Gray at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
 Acting Keeper r-in- Charge Lyle F. Kelsey and Relief Keeper Nicho- las N. Kashevaroff, the only wit nesses. could not come to testify at the inquest, being required at Cape Spencer to keep the light burning. Besides their affidavits. the Cedar brought to Juneau the Assistant Keepers body.
 The affidavits tell how Ford, unable to eat or sleep since he complained a week ago of pain in his heart and lungs and "a queer sensation in his head" tried to kill himself with poison, with pistol and with knife before finally ac- complaining the deed with scissors few hours before the Cedar was to arrive to take him off the sta tion.
 Sought Poison, Pistol
 Ford first complained November 10 that he was too i'll to meet the mail boat, the affidavits state. On November IT he was found lock- ing through the medicine chest l for poison and shortly before mid- night that night awoke Kelsey and asked to borrow his Luger pistol to kill himself.
 According to Kelseys affidavit, Ford told him that midnight that he had visions of horrible death that was to be inflicted on him for someone else's crime and that he wished to take his own life ine stead.
 Prom that time on Ford became steadily worse. His eyes became glazed, his face flushed and he failed to respond normally to the questions and directions of his companions. They relieved him of his regular watches, placed out of reach all instruments with which he might kill himself and kept as close watch over him as their duties at the station would permit. Kashevaroff. who went to Cape Spencer October 30, stated he found Ford extremely nervous, not being able to sit still He would sit in a chair, get up immediately and sit in second which he would abandon at once for a third, the affidavit stated.
 Knife Under Pillow
 On November IT, the day on which Ford suddenly took turn for the worse. the other Keepers found knife under his pillow. They had already taken his jack knife away from him.
 Tuesday Ford sat at table with his companions for the first time in two days. He excused himself early from the noon meal and took a dust pan and broom to his room to clean it. A few moments later he came back to the living room to empty the dust pan and walked by the table where the two others were still eating. That was the last time they saw him alive.
 After washing the dishes. Kelsey went to Ford's room to help him pack to leave on the Cedar, which was sent from Ketchikan when word of Ford's condition was sent