W. L. Shovell

The Payette Independent
Thursday, October 27, 1927

MALHEUR COUNTY AGENT KILLS SELF
W. L. SHOVELL, OF ONTARIO, TOOK POISON IN PACIFIC HETEL ROOM AT HUNTINGTON FRIDAY MORNING

The community was somewhat shocked Friday morning when the word was received that W. L. Shovel, county agent of Malheur county, Oregon with headquarters at Ontario, had committed suicide between 7 and 9 o'clock that morning, in a room in the Pacific hotel at Huntington.

Mr. Shovel registered at the hotel Thursday night and was heard moving about in the room Friday morning. As he did not respond to a call the proprietor went to the room about 9:30 o'clock and found him dead. A note addressed to George Aikin, editor of the Ontario Argus, asking him to notify Mrs. Shovel of his death. The note contained other matter which was not revealed, but was turned over to Mr. Aiken as per instructions.

There are many rumors afloat as to the cause of the rash act, most of which are probably conjecture. He, however, is known to have been in financial difficulties and undoubtedly took his life rather than face conditions which confronted him.

The dead man leaves a wife and two children, and his suicide is a great shock to them. He was a graduate of the Oregon Agricultural College, and was a man of talent. He had a wonderful voice and had appeared before many Payette audiences many times. He stood high in the estimation of the people of this city and his death, particularly under the unfortunate circumstances, is deeply regretted.