  James M. Massey 6 February 1854 - 2 January 1888 The Gainesville Daily Hesperian Wednesday, January 4, 1888 The dead body of J.M. Massey was taken from here last night in a hack to Pottsboro, and will be interred today in the Preston Bend grave yard near that town. Geo. Massey of Colbert, I.T., brother of J.M. Massey who committed suicide at the Lindsay house Monday night, arrived in the city Tuesday evening and took charge of the remains and conveyed them to Pottsboro where they will be interred. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, January 8, 1888 pg. 4 LOVE AND MORPHINE Mr. J.M. Massey Takes the Narcotic Route Into the Great Beyond Much surprise was occasioned among the friends and acquaintances of Mr. J.M. Massey, in this city Tuesday morning, by the intelligence that he had suicided at the Lindsay House in Gainesville, on Monday night, by taking an overdose of morphine. He had arrive in Gainesville on Monday morning, registered at the Lindsay House, and after taking breakfast had gone out into the city, remaining out till some time in the afternoon. At what time he returned to the hotel is not known, his room having been assigned him upon his arrival. Tuesday morning about 8 o'clock the discoery was made that Mr. Massey had not been attending his meals, and the hotel porter was sent to see if anything was the matter with him. The porter rapped, but receiving no response tried the door and finding it locked climbed upon a chair and looked through the transom into the room. To his horror he discovered the form of its occupant stretched out upon the bed cold and lifeless. The alarm was given and the door forced open, when the true nature of the tragedy became perceptible. On the table they found a bottle of morphine with about half the contents gone, the photograph of Miss Jessie Manning, who resides at Anadarko, Indian Territory, and a letter addressed to the same young lady. As this letter explains as briefly as we could do the suicide's reason for the rash act, we give it in full: Gainesville, Texas, January 2, 1888 Dear Jessie - You have wrecked my life, now I care not to live. When I placed the engagement ring on your hand, you told me that if there was any backing out I would have it to do, but I find that it is you instead of myself. The reason I came to this place was so I could lock myself in a room and then no one could find me until I am dead, which I prefer rather than live without you, and I want you to know that you are the cause of my death. May God bless you and may you find a husband that will love you as I do. I take my life to-night. Good bye. J.M. Massey The deceased was well known in Denison, having resided here for several years in the early days of the city. He was a member of the police force on the memorable 4th of July when so much blood was shed in Denison, and was one of the partied credited with the killing of the desperado, Charley Russell, on that occasion. He was a member of the old Massey family which flourished on Red River before the war, and was raised in Preston Bend, this county, where large numbers of his family connection still reside. He was a brother to Mr. George Massey, the Chickasaw cattle king, who, with his mother, resides at Colbert, Indian Territory. He was 37 years of age at the time of his death.  Massey-Steel Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |