Obituary: Dane County, Wisconsin: J. S. DOUGLAS

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Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, <rmontgomery@cishome.com> April 2008

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SUICIDE

Mr. J. S. Douglas, a farmer about 42 years of age residing near the west
shore of First Lake, committed suicide, it is supposed, on Monday evening,
April 11, 1892. His brothers, Edward and John reside in this place. The
former gives us the following particulars:

The deceased left his home on Monday at 1 o'clock p.m., stating to his wife
that he was going to Stoughton on business and would be home at noon on the
same day, but as he did not return at the time specified, search was
commenced and it was learned that he went to Stoughton, from there to
Madison where he purchased a revolver, and then went to Oregon where he was
seen and talked with by acquaintences the same afternoon. This was the last
seen of him until his remains were found on Wednesday, April 13, about 4
o'clock p.m. by his brother-in-law, Mr. Geo. Green, in the timber about two
and one-half miles northeast of Oregon with three bullet holes in his head
and a revolver laying near him. One shot entered the forehead over the
right eye, one from the right side of the head passed directly through just
back of the ears and one through the upper part of the head from the right
side, any one of which would have seemingly caused almost instant death. A
coroners inquest was called which decided that he committed suicide, or
came to his death from shots fired from a revolver held in his own hands.
The following was copied from a small account book which was found in his
pocket.

"April 11, 1892. This is to certify that my life is a failure. I lack
brains enough to carry me safely through."

No cause for the rash act can be given. He was apparently in his usual good
health, the owner of a first-class farm of 120 acres, and leaves a loving
wife and seven-year-old son. The funeral will be held from the house on
Saturday April 16, 1892 and the remains buried in the Stoughton cemetery.

Enterprise, Friday, April 15, 1892, p. 1, col. 5, Evansville, Wisconsin