Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, October 14, 1894
pg. 2

MORPHINE AND WHISKEY
James Reed, a Missouri, Kentucky & Texas section boss, committed suicide Saturday evening last between five and six o'clock in a room upstairs over the saloon at 118 South Austin avenue. Reed had been drinking heavily, but among his friends it was thought that he was "sobering up." During the day Saturday he deposited $100 with W.J. Sweeney and at that time he appeared to be sober. At the Austin Avenue saloon he called for a drink and then stated that he was tired and sleepy and wished to lie down. The proprietor went with him upstairs and gave him a room. Just before night the bartender went to awaken Reed but the man was dead. Officers were summoned, and from the surroundings, it was evident that Mr. Reed had committed suicide. On his person was $12.60 in cash, deposit checks amounting to $270, and the following letter:
Denison, Texas. - Dear wife: There is some money in the National Bank of Denison which you can get and the balance that Mr. Fitzpatrick owes me is $99. Please don't think that I have done a rash act, for you are a good wife, and I am not worthy of you. We have some sweet children. Please watch over them and for God's sake do not ever marry again for the sake of the children. I am leaving you forever, my darling, sweet wife.
JAMES REED
Mr. Reed has a wife and family at Whitesboro and the remains were shipped to that city for burial. He was probably 35 to 40 years of age and was very well known about town. An empty morphine bottle was found on a table near the bed in the room in which Reed died, an empty whiskey flask was also found on the table.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, October 14, 1894
pg. 5

LOCAL CONDENSATIONS
Sunday, October 7
The remains of James Reed, the man who was found dead last night in his room on South Austin street, will be shipped to Whitesboro for interment.