The Republican, October 12, 1905

Self-Inflicted Wound Ended in Death.

James Sampson Broadwater, Who Shot Himself, Died Saturday Evening.

Unconscious Since Thursday.

Wound Was Inflicted Wednesday Morning-Act Attributed to Ill Health Followed by Melancholia.

Mr. James Sampson Broadwater, retired merchant and prominent citizen of Grantsville, this county, who shot himself in the right temple last Wednesday morning with suicidal intent, as published in these columns on Thursday following, died at his home as a result of his self-inflicted wound on Saturday evening at 7 o'clock.

Mr. Broadwater was born and reared at Grantsville, being a son of the venerable "King Billy" Broadwater, who survives him at the advanced age of ninety-three years, his anniversary occuring on the same day that his son fired the fatal bullet which terminated his life. Up to a few years ago Mr. Broadwater was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits at Grantsville but owing to his health failing he sold out and retired from business, since which time he resided quietly at his home with his wife and four children, all of whom survive him. The reason advanced by Mr. Broadwater's friends for the act which had such a disastrous finality is that his health instead of improving became steadily poorer, and fearing that he would become a helpless invalid, concluded to put himself out of the way, hence the deed.

Mr. Broadwater was in a shed adjoining his stable in the rear of his home when he made the attempt upon his life, using a 32-calibre revolver. He fired one bullet which entered his brain at the right temple and shortly afterward was found by some member of his family. Deputy Sheriff James Frantz, of Oakland, who was in Grantsville on business that day, assisted in carrying Mr. Broadwater into his residence. In twenty minutes afterward Mr. Broadwater regained consciousness and conversed with his family concerning the matter but relapsed shortly afterward into unconsciousness in which condition he remained until his death occurred on Saturday night as above stated.

Until recently Mr. Broadwater was without church relationship when he became a member of the M. E. church. His funeral took place on Tuesday morning from his late home and was largely attended by relatives and friends.

He is survived by his wife, a half-sister of the late Thomas W. Frost, and four children, all of them grown.


Courtesy of the Ruth Enlow Library