Winder Crouch Suicide, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Lora Peppers

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The Ouachita Telegraph
December 5, 1867
Page 1, Column 4

[From the Alexandria Democrat.] 
Death of an Old Citizen. 
We are pained to record the death by suicide of Winder Crouch, one of the 
oldest, best and purest of Rapides' citizens. The deceased was born in 
Maryland, came to Rapides in 1824, and from that time to his death was a 
planter on Bayou Boeuf. He has always been esteemed a good neighbor and 
kind friend. Charitable and liberal in all his dealings, he will long be 
remembered and revered by his old friends and neighbors. The cause of his 
sad and romantic suicide will forever remain shrouded in mystery. No one 
can account for it, and all join in the expression that he was the last 
man in Rapides who ever was expected to commit such a deed. 

A few days previous to his death he made the attempt to take his life in 
swallowing ten grains of morphine, but it was discovered by the inmates 
of his household in time to prevent death. The evening previous to 
committing the fatal deed he read the letter of Judge Buckner, who it will 
be remembered committed suicide a few weeks since in Kentucky, and seemed 
much rejoiced at its contents, and spoke feelingly and in commendation 
of it in fact indorsed its sentiments. The next morning at 7 o'clock, 
which was on Friday the 8th inst., a pistol was heard in his bed chamber; 
his nephew and niece rushed in the room and there found he had been 
successful this time in taking his life. He had fixed himself a pallet on 
the floor, was dressed in his best suit, cleanly shaved, was lying exposed 
as in death, with his hands crossed and a white handkerchief over his face. 
He had shot himself in the right temple, through the handkerchief, with an 
ordinary deringer. He was not dead did not speak or show any signs of 
recognition but lingered about three hours, when he expired. 

The following note in his own handwriting was found under the pillow of 
his bed: "OCTOBER 13th, 1867. "Mr. J.C. Dumber: "Dear Nephew The first 
thing will be to straighten the corpse, then measure and send it to Mr. 
Unworth. Give three of the boys a dollar and a half each to dig the grave 
and clear away the weeds that are in the way of entering the graveyard. Then 
give to five of the men each one dollar to go down and assist in the burial. 
I want no masonry work, a rough box to put the coffin in will do. There are 
good boards for covering the coffin standing against the wall to the left 
hand of the cellar door; let Mr. Unworth know this. Tell him to make the 
coffin roomy. Hire Mr. Harrell's little wagon, mules and driver. "I forgot 
to tell you the grave is staked and marked out. "Yours truly' WINDER CROUCH."