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- Newspaper Obituary - Thursday October 28, 1886 Pulaski Democrat - Pulaski, New York - Suicide - A Wealthy and Respected farmer Cuts His Throat with His Own Butcher Knife - On Thursday morning of last week the sad news of the supposed suicide of James Sherman, of Daysville, was brought to this village. Coroner Caldwell at once visited the scene, empanelled a jury and held an inquest, at which time the following witnesses were sworn and substantially the following testimony taken: M. A. Blount, first witness. Know James Sherman well. First saw him this morning about six o'clock on his hands and knees in the barn of Mr. Waite. A knife was lying on the lumber pile just in front of him. He spoke to me, I asked him what he was doing there. He made no reply, then I asked him who he was. He looked at me and asked who I was; asked what I could do for him. He said nothing, but go to the house. I asked what for. He said to see the folks. Saw blood on his clothing and on the straw, went for help; returned in about fifteen minutes. He was lying on his face apparently dead; Mr. Manwarren came back with me. Never had heard deceased make any threats of self-destruction. There was a lantern in the barn at the time. Aurissa Waite, a second witness. Am 34 years old, daughter of the deceased. Never heard him say anything that would make me think he would end his life in this way. Ira Manwarren, third witness. Am a neighbor of Mr. Sherman's family; went with Mr. Blount to the barn; saw deceased, saw knife; did not touch the body. Dr. Low, fourth witness. Examined body; found a cut in left side of the neck about the width of the knife, that we saw lying beside him; cut was made with a sharp instrument, wound was sufficient to produce death in from three to four minutes; found no other marks of violence on his body; death was produced by the cut. Mrs. James Sherman, fifth witness. Am wife of deceased; have been married 38 years; deceased's health was very good except his stomach; appeared as well as usual yesterday; rested well last night so far as I know, got up this morning about four; he said he was going out; didn't know but the cattle had got into Mr. Martin's garden. He went out. I did not hear of his death until Mr. Nelson told me; his mind had been pretty clear; have heard him say he wished he was dead, was tired of living; has had trouble this summer which worried him considerably; little things seemed to worry him more than usual. William Weaver, sixth witness. Resided with Mr. Sherman; have seen the knife; have killed hogs with it. Lantern was gone this morning. After hearing the above evidence the jury rendered the following verdict: The said James Sherman, being in feeble health and of depressed spirits was, on the morning of October 21, 1886, between the hours of four and seven o'clock seized with a fit of temporary insanity and did then and there in a barn belonging to Luke Waite, in the town of Richland, in such fit of insanity stab or cut himself on the left side of his throat with a sharp instrument, from which wound or cut the said James Sherman instantly died. H. W. Caldwell, Coroner; Theodore Spencer, Foreman; Andre Smith, Mason Calkins, Edward Salisbury, Hartwell Douglass, Albert White, G. W. Manwarren, William Fleming.
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1809 - 1886 (77 years)
d. 3 May 1930, Richland Twp., Oswego County, New York