Cove, Union County, Oregon
William Shoemaker
Committed Suicide
William Shoemaker, a farmer who resides near Cove, committed suicide at his home Monday evening by hanging himself. Following is the story given by Coroner J.C. Henry to the Observer.
The cause of deceased committing suicide was due to the fact that he had purchased a valuable imported stallion for which he gave his note, but the investment did not prove to be so profitable as he thought it would be and he was brought to face the fact that would be unable to make the payment when due.
On the day of the rash act Shoemaker went to Union and while returning home he made an attempt to jump into Catherine creek but was prevented from doing so by the approach of neighbors. On arriving home he securd a rifle from the house and went behind a woodshed as was about to send a bullet through his head, when he was discoverd by his son who took the gun away from him and returned it to a neighbor from whom it had been borrowed.
While the son was away, the father went to the barn, and taking a Halter rope, hung himself. Coroner Henry, after inquiring into the facts, concluded that it would not be necessary to hold an inquest.
Deceased was forty years of age and leaves a son eighteen years of age, and a daughter fifteen. The funeral occurred at Cove Wednesday under the auspices I.O.O.F lodge of that town.
Elgin Recorder Friday May 5, 1905.