The Monroe New-Star - W. A. Skinner Takes Own Life Date: Dec. 1999 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Monroe News-Star Wednesday January 26, 1910 Page 1, Column 6 W.A. SKINNER TOOK OWN LIFE WELL KNOWN MAN SHOT HIMSELF THROUGH HEART EARLY TODAY. NO CAUSE IS KNOWN Placed Weapon to Breast and Pulled Trigger, after Calling the Porter and Telling Him What He Was About to Do - Remains Were Sent to Mer Rouge for Interment. W.A. Skinner, bar tender at Bell & Hollingsworth's salon near the Iron Mountain passenger depot shot and instantly killed himself about 6:30 o'clock this morning. Whether the shooting was an accident or was done purposely is questioned by some but from what could be learned it seems to be a plain case of suicide. Mr. Skinner went to the saloon and opened up at the usual hour this morning and no one seemed to notice anything unusual about his manner. He conversed with several railroad men who were at the saloon. About 6:30 o'clock it is said he called to the negro porter and told him he was going to kill himself. The porter told him not to do that and made a move to take the pistol when Mr. Skinner pulled the hammer back and the porter being frightened jumped back. He then placed the pistol to his breast and fired one shot, the bullet passing through his heart and causing instant death. He stood a moment after the shot, staggered and fell dead behind the bar. Coroner Surghnor was immediately notified and was soon on the scene. He empaneled (sic) a jury and heard the testimony of several witnesses after which the jury returned a verdict that Mr. Skinner came to his death at his own hands with suicidal intent. Immediately after the verdict, friends took the remains in charge and had them prepared for shipment to Mer Rouge where his family resides. The Northbound Iron Mountain train was late and the remains left Monroe about 11:30. Mr. Skinner was the father of thirteen children, six of whom survive him besides his wife. Mr. Skinner has resided in Morehouse and Ouachita parishes most of his life and during that time has made many friends. The general comment is "a good man is gone." When a very small boy he took care of a widowed mother and younger brother. Since attaining manhood he has been equally considerate of his family. Why he committed the rash act is a mystery to his friends. His family relations were the most pleasant and there is no known cause why he should have taken his own life. The Monroe News-Star Monday, January 31, 1910 Page 3, Column 2 MR. SKINNER'S DEATH. Story From Mer Rouge Concerning Unfortunate Affair. Wednesday at 6:30 a.m., in the Stagg Saloon in Monroe, W.A. Skinner, night bar tender in the saloon, killed himself by shooting a pistol ball into his heart. He died instantly. No real reason is known why he killed himself. Mr. Skinner had been up all night and in charge of the saloon. At 6:30 he called to a negro man who was in charge of the bar where negroes were sold liquors, and told him good bye and said to the negro he was going to kill himself, and followed the words up by picking up a pistol that was in the saloon, put it to his breast, fired it and then laid the pistol on the bar and fell. Mr. Skinner was 54 years old and leaves a wife and six children who reside in Mer Rouge. Mr. Skinner was well liked by all who knew him and his death will be regretted. He was a member of the K. of P. Lode at Mer Rouge and carried an insurance on his life for $3000. He was brought to Mer Rouge on the North bound train on Wednesday and was buried in Bastrop on Thursday a.m. He was taken care of and buried by the Knights of Pythias.-Mer Rouge Democrat # # #