Pike County GaArchives Obituaries.....Hale, William M. April 21, 1874
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Lynn B. Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 August 21, 2007, 3:54 pm

The Atlanta Constitution, April 24, 1874

Suicide
A Pike County Farmer Shoots Himself

From the Griffin News.
We have been furnished the following particulars of the Hale episode in Pike 
county, rumors of which reached the city yesterday:

Mr. Wm. M. Hale
Was an honest , industrious, hard-working farmer, living some ten or twelve 
miles from this city, in the Zebulon district of Pike county. He was fifty 
years of age or more, and the head of a family. He was a man of integrity, and 
paid his debts, and no one stood higher in the estimation of his neighbors 
than Mr. Hale.

Former Trouble
We learn that Mr. H. Has had much troubles in his family in years past, caused 
in a real part by his disposition to disturb the peace of his own household 
while under the influence of strong drink, but for nearly two years ha has 
been a member of a temperance lodge, and his family troubles had ended, and 
his life was apparently as placid as could be.

Religious Conviction
Several months ago, however, he had suddenly become convicted, in a religious 
sense, and apparently suffered extreme mental torture while brooding over his 
former weaknesses. He seemed to shun the society of his own family, and would 
neglect his ordinary farm duties and shut himself in an upper room of his 
dwelling and remain during the whole day, appearing only with nightfall.

Suspicions
This strange conduct on the part of the father naturally aroused grave fears 
in the minds of his family for his safety, and every dangerous weapon about 
the premises was kept carefully concealed from view by his anxious wife, who 
had become thoroughly alarmed for her husband’s life. This strange conduct on 
the part of Mr. Hale continued, and the strict surveillance of the family 
naturally disappeared as time wore on, and nothing violent was observable in 
his conduct.

The Deadly Weapon
Only a small single barrel pistol was retained in the house, an inoffensive 
looking weapon which belonged to one of the little boys, and which had been 
concealed in a trunk of clothing. By some means, however, the wretched man 
became aware of its place of concealment, as was afterward found, and having 
secured it he had the instrument wherewith to end life.

Intolerable Existence
No suspicions were entertained by the family, of the father’s awful intent, 
and on Tuesday morning the various members of the family had separated to 
their several duties, and Mr. Hale to his accustomed retreat, where in a few 
minutes the sharp report of a pistol startled the family, and his wife rushing 
into the dwelling from the yard was horrified by

Great Drops of Blood
dripping through the loose flooring of the upper room upon the floor below. 
The alarm was immediately sounded, and the neighbors coming in immediately 
proceeded to the room above, where they found the corpse of the wretched man 
in the bed, with a bullet hole in his temple, and the small pistol lying by 
his side. The intent had been deliberate, and the aim true, for when found the 
pulse was stilled forever. Thus another tragedy has been enacted, and another 
weakened body succumbed to the trials allotted to a lifetime, unwilling and 
unable to bear the burden.

[Transcribed 8/21/2007 Lynn Cunningham]


Additional Comments:

At Hale Family Cemetery, Pike County, Georgia:
Father
William M. Hale
Born Jan. 7, 1816
Died April 21, 1874


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