The Hillsdale Standard

SUICIDE IN MOSHERVILLE.

The citizens of Mosherville, Township of Scipio, in the northern part of this county were thrown into excitement on Tuesday last, by the discovery of the lifeless body of Giles Mosher, a resident of that place, suspended by a rope from a tree near the village.

The particulars of the tragedy, we learn, are as follows: In the morning, Mr. M. took a keg of butter from his store to a "spring house," near by, then returned, took a rope from the store, went to a thicket near the spring, affixed the rope to a limb, walked out on a smaller limb, beneath the one to which the rope was fastened, until it broke and launched him into eternity, as the circumstances indicated. Mr. M. has at different times been in a deranged state of mind during the last three or four years, Two years ago he went to New York on business connected with his store, arriving in that city, he procured passage for California, and was first heard from by his friends as being in San Francisco, but could give no account how he came there. Returning home in a few months, he has appeared more rational, until the time of his death. He frequently stated that he had twice attempted suicide--once near Jonesville, by hanging with a handkerchief, the knot of which gave way, and at another time, while in California, by taking arsenic, which did not have the effect he desired.

After his death, the following letter, directed to his wife, was found:

"Mysterious and wise are all thy ways, O, God!

Why do I take my own life? will be the query of the masses. I will answer. My race is run. I have no more to do. I have not fought what would be called the good fight, but I have done the best I could. My thoughts were once, pure and holy, but alas they are changed! I have drunken to the dregs the spirit of this world. My thoughts have been evil and my desires unholy. Kind angels once hovered around me, and requested of me perfect godliness.

O now, as true as there is a God, I led that life a while, I had no unholy thoughts.--What was I then called? (A Spiritualist!)

Now what has changed me? Answer-I was unwilling to do the bidding of angels.

Then let me say one word to those who are called. Appear a perfect pattern of goodness to the world; for that call is from holy angels! Shrink not from your duty, for, if you do, misery must be your portion.

Kind angels have come back to me again to bid me leave Earth's life; for I am but a stumbling-block in the great cause of Spiritualism. So I am going: they bid me come! I dare not shrink from their requirements I have no fears but all will be well. Eternity will satisfy all my mourning friends. So be of good cheer!

To My Wife. Huldah:--To you I have a few words to say. Your kindness, your affection and your devotedness to me, to make me happy, is more than I could pay you in Earth's life. We shall soon meet to part no more and I will pay you for all your devotedness to me. So be of good cheer!

To David:--I want you to settle all my business, pay all my debts to the last farthing, and, in closing up the business, secure to Huldah the house and lot."

Signed,

GILES MOSHER.

[On the margin was written the following request: Huldah, please correct mistakes.

The verdict of the Coroner's jury was as follows:

An Inquisition taken at Scipio, in said county, on the 19th day of June, before me, D. W. Finch, one of the Justices of the Peace for said county, upon the view of the body of Giles Mosher there lying dead; by the oath of the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed, who being sworn to inquire in behalf of the people of the State, when, in what manner, and by what means the said Giles Mosher came to his death, upon their oaths do say, that he came to his death by hanging himself with a rope, on a limb of a tree near the Spring-house, near the village of Mosherville, in the township of Scipio, in said county of Hillsdale, on the 19th day of June, and that said act was performed in a state of high mental excitability from impressions that angels had imperatively called for him, and that he must obey.

In testimony whereof the said Justice of the Peace and the jurors of this inquest have hereunto set their hands the day and year aforesaid.

D. W. FINCH, J. P.

Jurors--Ira Tripp, L. E. Worlen, H. Case, S. E. Smith, J. Heath, Wm. Carr, Jas Sturges, W. L. Smith.