Thomas Shepherd

Payette Enterprise
July 22, 1915

DESPONDENT BOY TAKES OWN LIFE

DEAD BODY OF EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD THOMAS SHEPHERD IS FOUND IN OLD SHED NEAR CITY LIMITS

"Dear Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters: I am going to bid you all good-bye. Please now don't take this hard. I am tired of life. Dear mother, you will forgive me for everything I have done or said, won't you? I know you will, Dear mother I hope to meet you in heaven some day. I don't think I have been so wicked that God will cast me into hell. Now mother, I want you to look at it this way --- everybody has got to die, so what is the use of worrying so about it. There is no use, mother. It won't be long till I see you again. Dear mother, I can see Etta holding out her arms to take me when I come. Perhaps people will think I am crazy, but I am not any crazier now than I ever was. Well, good-bye everybody till I meet you again. Mother don't think that I didn't love you, because I acted so cruel some times. Tell John and Harry to be good boys and pay up the mortgage on the home as quick as possible. Mother I would like to kiss you and all the rest good-bye, but I cannot do it, so good-bye forever. Kisses for all. "Good-bye"

Becoming despondent and tired of life, Thomas Shepherd, only 18 years old, ended his existence in a most tragic manner. Seeking the seclusion of an unused building in the foothills just east of the city limits he deliberately wrote a farewell note to his blind father and already distracted mother, who had been worrying over his absence, and blew his brains out with an army rifle. The body was found nearly 24 hours after the fatal shot was fired, and by the order of County Coroner A. A. Farris, who was immediately notified, was conveyed to Lauer's undertaking parlor to await the corner's arrival from Caldwell.

Relatives and friends of the young man had known for some time that he was laboring under a mental strain, caused no doubt by a physical ailment which had preyed upon his mind, finally driving him to the omission of the desperate deed that ended his young life and earthly sorrows together. He was a member of Company 1, of the National guardsmen of this city, and when refused permission by Captain Shaw, to accompany his company to the recent State Encampment at Boise, expressed his disappointment and contrition.

Sunday morning about 11 o'clock, armed with the gun with which he had become familiar at the armory, which he had procured through a friend, he departed for the open country on the Payette Heights, to hunt rabbits, as was supposed by his parents. Not returning at night nor the following morning, search was instituted by his older brother and by Nephi Purcell, the dead body being found by the last named about 1 o'clock Monday afternoon in the unused building in the gulch near the city gravel pit about 150 years east of the main wagon road. From all appearances the unfortunate boy had sat down and grasping the muzzle of the gun in his left had had placed the same to his left temple and pulling the trigger with his right had fired the fatal shot. Mr. S. W. Lisle, whose home is not more than 200 years from the scene of the tragedy, heard a shot and saw the smoke about 2 o'clock Sunday, which was doubtless the shot that ended Thomas Shepherd's life, but thought nothing of the matter at the time, as it is such a common thing to hear shooting in the vicinity.

Coroner Farris, County Attorney Griffith and Deputy-Sheriff McCullough arrived late Friday afternoon, to investigate the case, but after viewing the body and consulting with Dr. I. R. Woodward, who made the first examination immediately after the body had been discovered, and after carefully interviewing a number of people who were acquainted with all the circumstances and facts known in connection with the tragedy, they decided that it was not necessary to hold an inquest over the remains.

Upon the body of the dead boy Coroner Farris found a small passbook upon three leaves of which was written in a neat and legible hand the pathetic farewell which is printed above.

Funeral services were conducted from the Church of God at 2 o'clock Tuesday, by Rev. A. H. Farnham, the pastor.

Thomas Shepherd was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Shepherd and had spent most of his life in this city. for some time he had been employed by the Independent Meat Market as deliveryman and had always been faithful and dependable in the performance of his duties.

Payette Independent (Thursday, July 22, 1915)

SADDEATH OF YOUNG MAN
THOMAS W. SHEPHERD, ABOUT 29 YEARS OLD, ENDED LIFE WITH ARMY RIFLE

After Long Hunt by Friends and Neighbors Body Was Discovered by Nephi Purcell at 1 p. m. on Monday - Touching Note Left to His Mother

Thomas W. Shepherd, aged 18, committed suicide sometime last Sunday by shooting himself through the head with an army rifle. He left his home in Payette Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, stating he was going rabbit hunting. When he failed to return in the early evening a search was made for him, which continued all night and up to 1 o'clock Monday afternoon at which time he was found by Nephi Purcell, a neighbor, in an old abandoned shed on Payette Heights a mile southeast of the main part of town. Word was sent to town of the finding of the body. It was found he had shot himself through the head with the army rifle, which he was still grasping in one hand. The bullet entered near the left ear, went clear through the head and passed through a board on the opposite side of the shed, about eight feet above the ground. The whole back of his head was torn away by the bullet. These facts were learned through an examination made of the body by Deputy County Physician L. R. Woodward and several other men who went along to view the body. The county coroner, A. A. Ferris, of Caldwell, was notified, and with County Attorney Griffith and Deputy Sheriff McCullough, arrived at Payette in an auto at 5:30 o'clock Monday evening.

After viewing the body and hearing the statements made by Dr. Woodward and others as to the finding of the body, together with a pathetic letter found on the body of the deceased, the coroner and the county attorney decided an inquest was unnecessary. The following is a copy of the letter found:

"Dear Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters: I am going to bid you all good-bye. Please now don't take this hard. I am tired of life. Dear mother you will forgive me for everything I have done or said, won't you? I know you will. Dear mother I hope to meet you in heaven some day. I don't think I have been so wicked that God will cast me into hell. Now mother, I want you to look at it this way - everybody has got to die, so what is the use of worrying so about it. There is no use mother. It won't be long till I see you again. Dear mother I can see Etta holding out her arms to take me when I come. Perhaps people will think I am crazy but I am not any crazier now than I ever was. Well, good-bye everybody till I meet you again. Mother, don't think that I didn't love you because I acted so cruel sometimes. Tell John and Harry to be good boys and pay up the mortgage on the home as quick as possible. Mother, I would like to kiss you and all the rest goodbye, but I cannot do it, so good-bye forever. Kisses for all."

Goodbye

The young man was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Shepherd of Payette. He has several brothers and sisters here. His father is blind. He was a member of the Payette company in the state militia, but was unable to attend the recent encampment of the state militia at Boise.

Funeral services were held from the Church of God Tuesday afternoon, the pastor, Rev. Farnam officiating. It was said of Tom that "he was a kind, goodhearted boy who loved his home" and one of the young men who knew him remarked, "he was my friend." Where he was employed he was known as a good, faithful worker and was well thought of by his employers.