GOLDSBURY, Charles

GOLDSBURY, STARR, PELTON, CLEAVES, MAYNARD, METCALF, HILL, JEHU

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 7/9/2006 at 18:37:58

Cherokee Democrat April 3, 1895

DIED AS HE LIVED

Without Friends or Kindness to Smooth His Pillow

Sad Ending of the Life of a Peculiar Man-Dead in His Bed for Many Days

Nothing in the history of this town has seemed more horrible than the death of Charles Goldsbury-or rather the finding of his dead body-because nobody knows when he died. It is not the death of the man that makes it horrible, but rather the fact that he died and laid in his bed, on the principal street of the town, for probably a week or ten days before being discovered. Sad is the lot most surely, of a man who takes his departure from this earth in such a way. It might not be the choice of all of us to die amidst wealth and splendor, surrounded by acquaintances who never did us a kindness until we were dead; to be buried under a shower of sweetest flowers which retain their fragrance about as long as we are remembered after we are gone, but none of us would care to meet death in such a way as it came this lonely, forsaken man. The wish that should be uppermost in our thoughts is that he died with knowing that death was near-that he fell gently to sleep to awake no more. Judging form all we know he so died, but possibly he longed for some gentle hand to smooth his wrinkled pillow, to bathe his fevered temple, to speak just one word of love before he passed from a world which had been so unkind-a world which he differed with but which understood him not.

The dead body of Mr. Goldsbury was found in his room over the store building at the corner of Main and Second streets about 7:30 o’clock on Friday evening last. Shortly before this time two or three citizens came together on the opposite side of the street and a remark passed by one led to a discussion as to what had become of Mr. Goldsbury. It was known that he has been in feeble health and an investigation was the result of the discussion. It was only a few minutes until Marshal Starr has been requested to look the matter up. Together with two or three citizens he went to Mr. Goldsbury’s rooms. The door was securely fastened, but it was decided to break it open. Darkness had already gathered about them, but the marshal’s dark lantern was sufficient to light them on their way. As soon as they door was opened every man in the party knew what to expect. The stench from the rooms was almost unbearable, but there was a duty to perform and these strong men forced themselves into the rooms. Pen cannot picture the sight that met their gaze. Lying on the bed in the front room was the form of a man, blackened and in a terribly advance state of decomposition. None of those who entered could have recognized the man had they not known who it was. The horror-stricken party retreated from the place and a messenger was dispatched for Coroner Pelton. The news of the finding spread rapidly and in a few minutes a large crowd had gathered on the street. Quite a number entered the rooms, but their reports in regard to the situation deterred most of the people from entering. So they stood around and discussed the questions as to how long Mr. Goldbury had been dead and how he came to his death. His position in the bed indicated that he had died without a struggle. His pillow was doubled up and he laid on his back in a comfortable position-just as if he had gone peacefully to sleep and never awakened. Dr. Cleaves and others examined the body as best they could, but found nothing to indicate that he had taken his own life. The opinion of Dr. Cleaves was that he had died of heart failure or apoplexy.

As to how long he had been dead there is still some question, but it is pretty generally conceded that he must have died as early as Monday night, March 18, making it eleven days previous to the discovery of his dead body. At first there were a few who were positive that they had seen him as late as Monday, the 25th, others had seen him the Friday before. He had not taken his mail from the post office since the 18th, the people who delivered milk to him had not left any after the 18th, because the pail left at the door that evening had not been taken in, and others who had business with him had not seen him since about that time. As to the length of time it makes but little difference now, only as showing the character of the man’s life and the fact that he died as he lived, seemingly without a friend.

Undertaker Maynard took charge of the remains and Coroner Pelton at once summoned a jury and held an inquest. Nothing was elicited further than the facts stated above. He jurors were W.H. Metcalf, Chas. Hill and Evan Jehu. They returned a verdict to the effect that the best of their belief the deceased came to his death by asphyxiation. This was a good a theory as any, perhaps although there was no evidence tending to show that such was the case further than the fact that there was a coal stove in the room.

The funeral was held on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, a short service being held at the home of the late wife and family of the deceased.

Mr. Goldsbury came to Cherokee in 1871, from Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Williams College. He engaged in real estate and banking business and practiced law to some extent, having been admitted to the bar. He married and became the father of six children. He prospered in business in the early days of Cherokee and gathered to his credit considerable property. But men with more push and energy and with more agreeable business qualifications came and crowded him to the background. He gradually dropped out of each branch until he was practically out of business. Within the past few years his family troubles grow to serious proportions. But we will not dwell on that. Suffice to say that his wife secured a divorce from him about a year ago. Since then he has lived the life of a hermit in the rooms where he was found dead. He had few associations. At times a few of his acquaintances met with him at his room s to play cards. He had a mania for checkers, chess and cards, and if he had any enjoyment in life he got it out of these games, although we hardly think he ever gambled.

Mr. Goldsbury was a peculiar man. He loved a dollar more than anything else, and a life that might have been a useful, brilliant and happy one was sacrificed and made miserable by a selfish disposition. But could he help it? How many of us are more than a few degrees removed from him? With all his faults he had many good qualities. We know that he tried hard to be sociable and agreeable. He was honest in all his business transactions and never knowingly wronged his neighbor. Perhaps the world did not understand him. The world does not know how many heart-aches he endured, or how much of love there may have been in him. A visit to his rooms showed the miserable life he lived of late. Let us draw the curtain and say peace to his ashes.

The deceased was about 54 years of age.