Andrew Jackson Beal Obituary, Pope County, AR

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Submitted by: Lilly Beal Engleman<lillyj57@aol.com>
              - Greatniece
        Date: 2-13-2004
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Andrew Jackson Beal Feb. 17, 1921 Unknown

Obit,  February 17, 1921
FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE
The community was shocked Monday when it was learned that A. J. Beal, a
prosperous farmer had committed suicide.  The act was premediated and
death was almost instantaneous the weapon being a small calibre revolver
which he placed in his mouth before pulling the trigger.  Mr. Beal had
lived in the Gumlog community for a number of years and was a prosperous
farmer, but had moved to Pottsville community the past year and was
living about two miles west of Pottsville.

His son had married the year before and had done some forgery which
caused him much embarrassment.  He straightened up his son's debts but
was unable to reconcile himself to the burden and the disgrace, ended 
it by deliberately taking his own life.

He left home Monday morning and walked to his old home at Gumlog.  He
visited his son's deserted wife at the home of her father, Wallace
Loveless, and in the presence of the father told her that he was going 
to end his life and requested her to tell Bryan, if she ever saw him again
that he had forgiven him. He then went to the home of his daughter, 
Mrs. George Weir, and finding Mr. Weir in the field, told him it was about
dinner time and asked him to go to the house with him.  He talked with
his daughter and son-in-law for some time, told them he meant to kill
himself and showed them the revolver.  When he left the house, the son-
in-law ran to a neighbor's for help but the sound of a pistol shot told
them they were too late.  The lifeless body was found a short distance
from the house, where he had sat down and leaned back against a tree
before placing the muzzle of the pistol in his mouth and pulling the
trigger.

Mr. Beal was a good citizen and it was the writer's pleasure to have 
know him for a number of years and numbered him among his friends.  He is
survived by his wife and a number of children, who have the sympathy of
many friends in their bereavement.

NOTE:
The obit is a little confusing. "He visited his son's deserted wife at
the home of her father, Wallace Loveless, and in the presence of the
father told her that he was going to end his life and requested her to
tell Bryan, if she"----------"He then went to the home of his daughter,
Mrs. George Weir, and finding Mr. Weir in the field, told him it was
about dinner time and "
The name of Bryan's wife was Una Weir
W. B. Beal, 22, of Pottsville and Una Weir, 19, of Russeville married 6
June 1920 by Vannie Buchannan, J.P. (marriage book M, pg. 177). 
Walter's father died in 1904. Whoever wrote the obit for the paper got the names
confused.

.