A Young Man’s Tragic End
A nineteen-year-old Tacoma Ledger employee ends his life at his sweetheart’s home, leaving behind a mysterious note.
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.
Millard A. Spellman, 19, an employee of the Tacoma Ledger, shot himself through the head at the home of Miss Lila White, 4334 South L Street, last evening. The body was discovered in an outbuilding by the girl's mother the following morning. Despite a note found in his pocket expressing love for Lila, the motive for his death remains a mystery, as he was known for good character and stability. Some associates believe his behavior changed following a mastoid operation eighteen months prior. The tragedy sent shockwaves through his family and the community.
“I have been true to you eight long months, but I have tried to live beyond my position.”
The reporting of mental health struggles as 'temporary derangement' or the result of physical ailments was common in 1909. Today, we view these crises through a different lens, but the toll on families and communities remains as profound.
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