Miscellaneous History Items

SUICIDE BY HANGING!

W. L. Tyson, a Quiet Respectable Citizen Launched into Eternity by his own Hand.

 W. L. Tyson departed this life by hanging himself with a rope, in his barn, on the evening of Sunday, July 19.  The circumstances of his death, as near as we can learn, are as follows: 

About 9 o’clock Sunday evening Mr. Tyson left his house, acting in such a manner as to arouse his wife’s suspicions that he meant himself no good.  Not returning, she became thoroughly alarmed, and finally sent her son Jimmie to the house of Frank Allen for assistance.  Mr. Allen came as requested, and was begged by Mrs. Tyson to get a lantern and go in search of her husband, as she feared he had put an end to his life by jumping into the bayou north of the house in the woods.  Procuring a lantern he did as directed, searching the vicinity of the bayou thoroughly, but with no success.  He was returning, thinking that her fears were groundless, when in passing the barn, he observed that the door stood open.  Entering, he peered about, and finally saw Mr. Tyson apparently sitting on a box in the farther part of the barn.  He called to him; saying, “Bill, what are you doing here?”  Receiving no answer he raised the lantern higher, and was horrified to see that he hung by a rope.  Going around the barn to reentered a door beside the unfortunate man, and a glance satisfied him that he was already dead and beyond all earthly assistance, having probably already hung more than half an hour.  He was in the north part of his barn, against the side.  His position and surroundings would lead one to the conclusion that he had climbed upon the edge of the manger, taken the rope, which was a very small one used for a colt halter, tied it to a small strip of wood nailed across two studding, and after getting down again upon the floor, had tied the rope about his neck, the knot back of the right ear, and threw his weight upon the rope by simply putting his feet behind him, allowing his knees to almost touch the floor.  That he used no more violent means is also evident from the fact that his neck was not broken, as it might have been had he jumped and the straw beneath his feet had not been disturbed, as would have had he struggled, while his hat, the least touch of which would have knocked off, was still upon his head.  Leaving the body hanging, in accordance with the law, Mr. Allen went in search of Marshal Norton and W. H. Tucker, Justice of the Peace.  These, with several other citizens returned to the barn.  Mr. Tucker cut down the body, and Messrs. Charles Sinclair, W. H. Healey and Byron Hill carried him into the house.  Drs. Brackett and Vought were summoned, but pronounced him beyond assistance.  The body was finally taken in charge by Marshal Norton, and the Coroner, W. O. Beam, of Humboldt, was sent for.

The Coroner arrived at eight o’clock Monday morning, and impaneled a jury consisting of Messrs. P. Hutton, George McCauley and John Hewitt.  The evidence brought out through examination showed that Mr. Tyson had previously attempted self destruction by the aid of poison.  They found a verdict to the effect that “Deceased came to his death by strangulation by his own hand, caused by a rope around his neck.”

The Old Fellows took charge of the body, and he was buried under the honors of the lodge last Tuesday, the funeral services being held at the Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Bradshaw preaching the sermon.

He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his departure, to whom is extended the sympathy of warm hearted friends, who sincerely hope that never again a so trying an affliction befall them, and that they may have strength to endure this.