FRAME, Charles H.

ANOTHER SUICIDE.

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CHARLES H. FRAME DIES FROM
A SELF-INFLICTED GUN-
SHOT WOUND.

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Financial Trouble Said to be the
Cause.

Last Friday morning between eight and nine o’clock, the news rapidly spread through town, that Charles H. Frame, the well-known jeweler, had shot himself and was lying at the point of death. Dr. T. C. Donnel and Dr. Carl Payne were hastily summoned and on-going to Mr. Frame’s residence, found him in an un­conscious condition and breathing heavily. It was then learned that he had shot himself the day before.

It seems from what Mr. Frame told his wife, he had gone to the cemetery on Thursday, Oct 24, and while at his mother’s grave about four o’clock in the afternoon, he fired the shot which proved fatal. It is supposed he became un­conscious from the shock and lay some time in that condition. On re­gaining consciousness he started home, arriving at his house about eight o’clock. He appeared pale and excited, and his wife, on inquiring what was the matter, was told that he had shot him­self. She wanted to send for a physician at once, but he would not permit her, saying it was only a slight wound. He went to bed and rested tolerably well. The next morning he became worse and on further conversation with his wife, said the shooting was accidental. He soon lapsed into a state of uncon­sciousness, when Mrs. Frame at once sent for a physician. Thus nearly eight­een hours elapsed from the probable time of shooting until the fact was made known to the com­munity.

Drs. Payne and Donnell examined the wound and found the ball had entered the left breast in the region of the heart. The wound was a pen­etrating one, and, while the ball did not strike the heart, it was such as to give rise to internal hem­orrhage. A probe was inserted about five inches.

Mrs. Frame’s statement before Cor­oner Jones was as follows:

Sarah J. Frame says that she is the wife of C. H. Frame, deceased. On the 24th day of Oct, 1895, deceased left the home about 9 o’clock a.m. When he left in the morning he bade me goodbye. I saw nothing unusual in his actions. He gave me two receipts of the premium on his life insurance policy.

When he came in at night he was excited and pale. He was cold. He called me into the bedroom. Said he had something to tell me. He told me he had shot himself. He did not say why. Next morning he said that his pistol went off, when he was loading it, accident­ally. He became stupid about 8 o’clock a.m. on the mor­ning of the 25th. Was unconscious until he died about 12:35 p.m. He frequently spoke of suicide in the last year or so. His clothing was badly burned. He refused to allow me to send for a doctor. Slept well during the night.

Sarah Frame. 

October 26, ‘95

From the above it will be seen that suicide had been contemplated. As to the cause no reason can be assigned except trouble over money matters. His mother, who died nearly two years ago, left the estate to be divided between her son, Charles, and heirs in South Amer­ica. To make the proper division it be­came necessary to sell the home. This was to take place Friday through Col. S. P. Oyler as commissioner. The ap­proaching sale probably weighed heav­ily on Mr. Frame’s mind, and drove him to the rash act which terminated his life.

Mr. Frame was 58 years old and na­tive of Germany. Nearly all his life had been spent in this county and in Franklin. He was well known through­out the county, and held in high esteem. In past years he had conducted a large jewelry business. He followed his trade until one year ago, when he sold his store to E. O. Collins of Martinsville. His business career in Franklin, extends back to 1853.

Deceased was a Mason, having passed to the 32d degree, was a member of the Scottish-Rite, was an Odd Fellow, a K. of P. and a member of the Knights of Honor.

He was twice married. His first wife and little daughter, while at Cincinnati waiting on a son undergoing a surgical operation, were taken sick with the cholera and died. A third child by the first wife subsequently died. He was aft­erwards married to Sarah J. Peggs, daughter of Jacob Peggs, deceased, who with one son, Barney, survives.

Funeral services were held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. from the residence, conducted under the auspices of the Masonic lodge, assisted by the Knights and Odd Fellows. The procession which formed, was one of the largest ever witnessed on any similar occasion in Franklin. Many members of orders from different parts of the county were present and joined the local lodges in paying the last sad rites to their de­ceased brother.

A short service was conducted at the house by Rev. L. P. Marshall of the Presbyterian church, after which the remains were placed in front of the residence, where the Knights Templars conducted a brief and impressive cere­mony. The members of the different orders then filed by and viewed the remains, after which the large assemb­lage took their last look of the deceas­ed.

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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, November 1, 1895,
Vol XXXVI Number 16, page 3 column 4

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CORONER’S VERDICT

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The undersigned, Coroner of Johnson county, Indiana, did on the 25th day of October, 1895, hold an inquest on the body of Charles H. Frame, late of said county, found dead at Franklin, Johnson county, Indiana, on the 25th day of October, 1895.

Having viewed the body and heard the testimony of witnesses, I find that the deceased came to his death by reason of a gunshot wound, self-inflicted with sui­cidal intent.

Deceased was 58 years old, 5 feet, 9 or 10 inches high. No valuables found on the body.

J. T. JONES, 
Coroner J. C. 

Franklin, Ind., Oct, 28th 1895.

Link to Charles H. Frame’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry