Sylvan Valley News (Brevard, NC) Fri Aug 9, 1912 p. 1 - Register of Deeds of Haywood Suicide. James Noland Shoots Himself; Embittered on Account of Vile Ingratitude of His Friends. Waynesville, Aug 5 - Embittered, it is believed, by reflecting upon "vile ingratitude" of those who he felt should have been his friends, James Noland, register of deeds for Haywood county, shot and killed himself in his bedchamber early yesterday morning. Mr. Noland was a candidate for renomination in the democratic primaries of Saturday,. They theory is that he knew of many votes against him upon whose support he had counted; people, it is said, for whom he had done favors, such as lending them sums of money or signing bail or other bonds, voted for his opponenet. Mr. Noland shot himself with a pistol, apparently just after rising from bed, about 7 o'clock yesterday morning, and died at once. He was one of the most prominent men in the county and was about 35 years old. In the house at the time of the tragedy were Mrs. Noland and several of her children. Mrs. Noland did not hear the pistol shot, but her attention was attracted when she heard the body fall. She sent her little daughter to inquire what the matter was, and a moment later the child ran back crying that "papa was on the floor, all bloody." Mrs. Noland rushed to the room only to find her husband expiring while blood streamed from his temples. The bullet, fired into the right temple from a 32 caliber revolver, had passed entirely through the head, emerging at the left temple. Death was almost instantaneous. County Coroner SL Stringfield was summned, but he decided there was no occasion for an inquest, suicide being evident. The funeral will take place tomorrow. The suicide is ascribed by some of his friends to Mr. Noland's failure to obtain renomination at the primaries Saturday. He had a lead of 12 votes, but another primary would have been necessary. A hard fight had been made on Mr. Noland and for some days he had seemed unwell or depressed. For several days he had scarcely eaten anything. Late Saturday he complained to several of his friends that support in the primary had not been forthcoming from persons of whom he had expected it, and he seemed both bitter and dejected, it is said. Shortly before midnight he left for his home two miles from town, and on arriving at the house ate a light supper, which he asked his wife to prepare. He did not discuss politics with her, it is said. Mr. Noland was one of the most popular and best known men in the county, and was a man of considerable means, his estate being estimated at from $30,000 to $40,000. He is survived by a widow and seven children, two boys and five girls. He had served for two terms as register of deeds. He was a native of the county, and was a farmer and dairyman. - Gazette-News.