A Coupeville Pioneer Takes His Own Life
Charles Crockett, a resident of Whidbey Island since 1854, is found dead at his home in a sudden and tragic suicide.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
News was received from Coupeville today that Charles Crockett, one of the oldest pioneers on Whidbey Island, committed suicide at 7 o'clock this morning by shooting himself with a pistol. The deceased and his brother, Walter Crockett, who is the receiver of the Island County bank, lived together. Walter stepped out for a few moments to do some chores, and on returning found his brother dead with a smoking revolver in his hand. For some time the deceased had been despondent without any apparent cause. He was moderately wealthy, had suffered no business reverses and was in good health. He had lived in Island County since 1854 and was about 60 years old.
“For some time the deceased had been despondent without any apparent cause.”
Stories of pioneers who built the early settlements on Whidbey Island are frequent in the local papers of this era, often framing their private mental health struggles against their public 'success' and standing in the community.
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