MESSAGE: (#18797) DEATH OF VIRGIL STANLEY

From: "Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert" iggy29@scican.net
To: IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: DEATH OF VIRGIL STANLEY.
Date: Monday, August 27, 2001 10:31 PM

Decatur County Journal
June 22, 1905

'YOUTH TIRED OF LIFE'

VIRGIL STANLEY Kills Himself Near Caledonia Tuesday Morning.

VIRGIL STANLEY, not quite 19 years of age, ended his life this morning at the home of his brother, HERBERT STANLEY, in the southeast part of Poe Township near Caledonia. He emptied one barrel of a shotgun into his body below the heart, dying two and a half hours later, at 5 o'clock.

STANLEY and his sweetheart, a young lady about his own age, drove Sunday to Bethany, Mo., where they attempted to get married but failed because of their youth, no one would perform the ceremony. Returning home, the young man left the young lady at her home, and going three-quarters of a mile to his own home, busied himself in writing four notes to his mother, sweetheart, and his brother. In these notes he stated his intention of committing suicide, willed his team, buggy and harness to his sweetheart and asked to be buried in the Shaha(sic) Cemetery.

STANLEY left his team standing still hitched to the buggy. The first that HERBERT STANLEY and wife knew of his presence in the house was when he awakened them by calling good-bye to them, and almost at once they heard the shot. They ran to his side and found him fatally wounded. Medical aid was summoned, but his life ebbed away in a short time. He retained consciousness for some time, and spoke in tender terms of his sweetheart, besides expressing his regret at his self-slaughter.

Coroner Lesan and Sheriff Miller visited the STANLEY home this forenoon and held an inquest. C.A. Campbell, J.A. Mickael, and E. Cornell being the jurors. They returned a verdict of suicide.

--MT. AYR NEWS.

The deceased is the son of MR. and MRS. HENRY STANLEY, of Humeston, formerly well known citizens of this county. His sisters are MRS. TOM PENNISTEN, of Leon, and MRS. FRED SMITH, of Blockley. It is supposed that interment will be made today in the Shy Cemetery.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
August 27, 2001