• Union Village and the Shakers of Warren County, Ohio
• Other Shaker Obituaries

Click on the thumbnail for larger image
(thumbnails are generally reduced to a 100 pixel width and images to a 600 pixel width.)

For the Western Star.
SUICIDE

On Monday last, an inquest was held by the Coroner of this county, over the body of Randolph West, who was found dead near the residence of Mr. [Lewis Manning?] in this vicinity. His body was found hanging by the neck to a rope which was fastened to a leaning sugar sapling with his feet within about fourteen inches of the ground. From the evidence detailed to to the Jury it appeared that the deceased was about 72 years of age and had resided with the Shakers at Union Village for sixteen or seventeen years, and who was amongst those of that society who could not travel with their Brethren in the new light Revelation which they proposed to have received. It did not clearly appear whether the deceased voluntarily left the society or was expelled; but it was testified that he had frequently stated, with tears in his eyes, since he had left the society that he had laboured at the Village for sixteen or seventeen years and had expected to end his days there, but was now without a home, among strangers and not a relation in this country. The last conversation which he was known to hold was with one of his friends who had also been compelled to leave the Village on account of the new Revelation. In this conversation the deceased inquired of the witness whether he had heard any news from the Village and on being told that the new work was still going on and the believers still saw visions and held converse with Ann Lee he exclaimed, “My Lord what will become of me!” He then appeared dejected and said but little more. It was testified that the deceased was an honest, candid and kind hearted man, by a witness who roomed with him for several years.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased come to his death by hanging himself. Had the jury felt themselves authorized to declare their opinion as to the cause that induced the act, I have no doubt but they would have attributed it to the new Revelation at Union Village.

A BYSTANDER.