Halfhide Charles01

Waupaca County Post

December 15, 1898

Charles Halfhide committed suicide on Sunday morning last, at about 11 o’clock by shooting himself in the forehead with a revolver. The sad affair occurred in the yard of the home of his son Robert, on Royalton Street, in the second ward. He was picked up and taken into the house, and Dr. Reed summoned, but he never rallied and died at about 3 o’clock.

Mr. Halfhide was 67 years old, and had been a resident of this city and vicinity for many years. A few years ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he never recovered and which left him nearly helpless. During the past six months he had been getting worse, so that it was with the greatest difficulty that he could move at all. He recently returned from a visit with a daughter in Dunn County, and had been despondent ever since his return, frequently expressing a desire to die, and saying that he was in the way, etc. One day last week he said he took over an hundred drops of laudanum to ease his pain.

A coroner’s inquest was held by Justice L.E Buck in the afternoon, the jury being composed of W.J. Bendixen, A.A. Vaughn, S.A. Barrington, J.W. Evans, F.S. Baldwin and Andrew C. Larson. They heard evidence as to the time of the shooting, and also the doctor’s statement. The ball entered the frontal bone about three inches above the eyebrows, and lodged near the left ear. The jury brought in a verdict that he came to his death as the result of a gun shot wound, administered by himself.

The funeral was held on Tuesday from the house, Rev. J.R. Reynolds officiating. He leaves five children to mourn his demise, his wife having died about a year ago. They are Robert and Mrs. A.C. Larson of this city, Mrs. Frank Tunks of Ogdensburg, a daughter in Dunn County, and a younger son in Waukesha.