BRADSHAW, Claudius "Claude" 1870-1896

BRADSHAW

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 9/22/2009 at 10:57:02

The following obituary was found for Claudius (a/k/a Claude) BRADSHAW in microfilm records at the Fairfield Public Library for the Wednesday, September 9, 1896 edition of The Fairfield Tribune.

It is being offered as a direct transcription to aid any BRADSHAW family researchers who have seen the cause of death in other sources listed as "overdose of morphine" and came to the obvious conclusion. Given the observations in this obituary it seemed appropriate to offer the newspaper account that steers the reader away from the conclusion of suicide.

This contributor has viewed the final and official death record at the Jefferson County Courthouse, and the cause of death is, indeed, listed as 'overdose of morphine', with no allusions to suicide.

"A Sudden Death

Claude BRADSHAW, the oldest son of Dr. A. C. D. BRADSHAW, died this morning, just before noon, death being the result of an over dose of morphine. He was found in his room about eleven o'clock last night in a semi-unconscious condition, and a physician was summoned at once. Every means possible was used to restore the unfortunate man, but all was unavailing and he died, as stated above, just before noon to-day. While death was the result of morphine administered by himself, it is not believed it was done with suicidal intent. While this was the first thought of those nearest him, and is the report about town, there seems to the be best of reasons for believing that it was not the case. He simply took more than he meant to, and death came without his intending it.

Young BRADSHAW was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Several years ago he was married, but for the past two years he and his wife had not been living together, and he had been making his home with his parents. The young man had not been kind to himself in all respects, and had failed to make the best use of the opportunities offered him. It is a sad affair and the family will have the sympathy of the public generally".

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Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, plot Old.P.244

Note: as of 1990 there evidently was no headstone in place for Claudius. Since then someone as yet un-identified has placed a fine headstone for him at his grave in the Bradshaw family plot.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.