Joseph Devillier obituary
Transcribed and submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Yvonne Arabie, May, 2009.

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The Weekly Gazette   Ville Platte, Louisiana  November 24, 1917   Front Page

Suicide At Chataignier

Young Timber Man After Night of Gambling and Drink Fires Bullet Into Brain

Joseph Devillier, 22, committed suicide at Chataignier last Sunday afternoon by 
shooting himself in the head with a pistol. Death was practically instantaneous, 
resulting in a few minutes after the shot was fired.

Devillier, it is said, had spent the previous night and morning at 
Luma Fontenot's place in Chataignier, where he had lost considerable money, 
also that he had been drinking quite freely.

The young man was employed in the lumber camps about Eunice and a while before 
the train was due that would carry him to his place of work, it is said he 
asked Mr. Fontenot for a place to lie down, requesting that he be woke up 
in time for his train, due about 5 o'clock.  Mr. Fontenot directed him to 
a bunk in the kitchen of an adjacent building, it is said, where shortly 
after was heard the shot with which the unfortunate young man ended his life.

That suicide was not premiditated is claimed by the victim's friends, who 
point to the instructions left with Mr. Fontenot, also to the fact that he 
tried to sell or pawn the weapon only a short while before.  The loss of 
his money and the depressing effect of drink, and in addition, some family 
trouble all combined is thought to have been too great a strain and in a 
fit of temporary insanity he chose to end it all by self-destruction.

The young suicide is said to have been a hard working man and a 
peaceable, quiet citizen.