W C STONE

June 7, 1847 - July 13, 1898

*Obituary
The Springdale News
Friday, July 15, 1898

STONE, W.C. - Our people were surprised and shocked Wednesday when it was learned that W.C. Stone, a prosperous farmer residing in Oxford Bend, a few miles Southeast of Springdale, had taken his own life. Squire J.W. Lewis went out and, with the assistance of twelve men, held an inquest. The information developed at the inquest showed that between 7 and 8 o'clock Wednesday morning Mr. Stone took his gun, a single barrel breech-loading shot gun, No. 12, saying to the family that he would go out and see if he couldn't kill an owl or a hawk. Soon afterwards they heard the report of the gun near by but thought nothing of it at the time. Some thirty minutes afterwards they found Mr. Stone in a buggy shed near the house with the top portion of his head blown away. He was lying on his back with the barrel of the gun clutched in his left hand and the butt between his legs. It was the universal opinion of those who made the examination that Mr. Stone must have squatted low on the ground, and placing the muzzle of the gun to his forehead, between the eyes, pulled the trigger which rushed him into eternity, the body falling backwards. The gun was loaded with No. 4 shot and its work was swift and sure. The upper portion of the head and one eye were blown away and the brains were scattered on the rafters above and in every direction. None of the family suspicioned that Mr. Stone contemplated such a rash act and he left no note or explanation of why he did it. The supposition is that the deed was the result of domestic troubles. Mr. Stone had a family of several children by his first wife and, she dying, he married again something near two years ago. Grown children and a young step mother do not usually live pleasantly in the same household and a few weeks ago Mrs. Stone left her husband for the purpose, it is said, of seeking a legal separation. Mr. Stone was a quiet and peaceful citizen, devotedly attached to his wife and undoubtedly preferred death to a separation from her and the notoriety of the divorce court. W.C. Stone was one of the best citizens in the community and was an old settler here. Industrious, honest and upright, he lived a useful life and his sad and untimely death is deplored by a host of friends. For the grief stricken family The News expresses profoundest sympathy.

*Photo courtsey of ronaldasma@aol.com

Contributed on 10/21/09 by mjones4359
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Record #: 250017

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