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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Jackson Daily Citizen Friday, 11 February, 1870 HORRIBLE SUICIDE It becomes our duty to chronicle one of the most revolting suicides which ever occurred. Yesterday morning MR. CHARLES HIGGINS, living in Waterloo village, in this county, and for many years town clerk of Waterloo, got up as usual, went out and fed his stock, and came back into the house. His wife was cooking breakfast, and he made a remark in an angry tone about the biscuit burning. His wife looked up and saw that he had a cheese knife in his hand, (the same he used in the grocery he kept,) and that blood was flowing from an opening in his bowels on the left side. He suddenly stepped up to the looking glass and drew the knife over the right side of his throat, making a severe gash. His wife screamed but he paid no attention, deliberately going to work on the other side of his throat and there effected another horrible gash. His bowels were protruding and the blood flowed in streams from the wounds on his throat, but none of the wounds were mortal. Not succeeding with the knife, he went to a bureau, took out a loaded revolver, put the muzzle into his mouth, and scattered his brains about the room. The corpse presented a most ghastly appearance. The neighbors soon assembled and cared for the mangled remains. What lead MR. HIGGINS to the melan- choly act is not known. He was an elderly man, the father of a family, and stood well in the community, both as respects character and pecuniary responsi- bilities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Jackson Daily Citizen Tuesday, 1 March, 1870 Ann Arbor, Feb. 22d, 1870 To the Editors of the Jackson Daily Citizen: I have been shown a copy of your paper of the 11th, containing an account of the suicide of MR. CHARLES HIGGINS, of Waterloo, in your county. I regret that such a collection of misstatements, given in the tone they were, should have been re- ported to you, or by you presented to the public, without some investigation as to the true facts in the case. The circumstances, as given in your statement, do injustice to the character of MR. HIGGINS, as well as his bearing towards his fam- ily. I beg leave to give you a brief statement of the occurrence as elicited at the Cornoner's inquest, and which is correct. Between the hours of 11 and 12 a.m. on Wednesday the 9th inst., the wife of the deceased, on account of his illness, left the house for a short time to attend to some of the usual chores at the barn, ten or fifteen rods away. MR. H. was left lying on a couch in a room most frequented by the family. When she re- turned he was not in the room. Having occasion shortly after her return to go into an adjourning (sic) room, she was horrified at finding him lying on the floor, dead, with a razor and a gun near him, and a pocket knife a short distance away. He had, during her absence, taken a mirror and the razor, and attempted to cut his throat, not, however, doing more than to inflict a slight wound. Failing to effect his purpose he procured a small shot gun, usually kept loaded in the house and discharged the con- tents into his mouth - the whole charge remaining within the skull. You will see by this that MR. HIGGINS took this opportunity, in his wife's ab- sence to commit this unlooked for deed. There was not, as you state, any harsh words known to have passed between himself and wife. He did not attempt the act, nor manifest at any time, any such design, in her presence. He did not inflict any "horrible gashes" on his person; nor did he use a revolver, being a man who kept no such weapon in his house. The deed was done when en- tirely alone, (there being no family but himself and wife.) Whatever may have prompted MR. HIGGINS to commit this act is mere conjecture. But there was not about the man, nor the occurrence, any of the desperado spirit so strongly evinced in your statement. He had been suffering for several days previous, much severe bodily pain, at times almost beyond endurance, in consequence of which he was noticed to be very low-spirited. Trusting that you will give the corrections of your statement due the deceased and his friends. I am, very respectuflly yours, JAMES C. HIGGINS