Memorials › Freeman Taylor Hunt

Freeman Taylor Hunt

1849 – 6 Nov 1886

Birth1849
Death6 Nov 1886
CemeteryForest Grove Cemetery
Clyattville , Lowndes County , Georgia , USA
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124143833

Bio

SUICIDE IN VALDOSTA. Taylor Hunt Throws Himself Under a Moving Train. Valdosta, GA. November 6. -[Special.]- Taylor Hunt committed suicide this afternoon about three o'clock, by throwing himself under a moving freight train at the depot in this city. When he approached the train he was noticed by several bystanders, but they observed nothing unusual in his demeanor. He seemed as much self possessed as usual, and had doubtless fully made up his mind to shuffle of this mortal coil in the way mentioned. Hunt has been here for the last fifteen years a citizen of Valdosta. He had a cheerful, genial disposition, but had long become a victim to strong drink and dissipation in its worst form. For more than a year he was a sufferer and invalid, as the result of early indiscretions, and for the last few months was melancholy and dispirited, and of late his mind was weak and he was a wreck both mentally and physically. The suicide was a brother of J.C Hunt, a member of the present city council, and a most worthy citizen. ~7 November 1886. The Atlanta Constitution. Crushed To Death. Taylor Hunt Cut In Twain By A Railroad Train. Last Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock, while the east bound way freight train was pulling up to the depot to discharge freight Mr. F.T. Hunt approached from the north side of the Patterson Street crossing and put himself under the moving train. The front truck on a heavily loaded car struck him instantly about the middle of his body. Before parties near at hand could pull him out 4 or 5 trucks had passed over him and his body was almost cut in twain. Death of course ensued instantly. There were conflicting reports about the matter all over town in a few minutes, some claiming that it was suicide, and others that it was an accident. Sunday morning Coroner C.G. Scruggs empaneled a jury and made an official investigation of the matter. Mr. Gus Lane, in the employ of the railroad at the depot, testified that he saw Taylor deliberately throw himself under the wheels of the moving train, and that there could not have been any accident about it, as he could not have fallen under it, nor could a man without suicidal intent have attempted to cross the road under the train at the speed it was moving. Dan Screven, colored, testified that he had been to the Post Office to deliver the mail bags and was on his return to the depot when he walked up in the rear of Mr. Hunt on his way to the depot, and overheard him say to himself aloud that he was tired of living, or words to that effect. He saw him approach the moving train and make several motions as though he was about to plunge under the train and then hesitate as though his heart failed him. Dan was in 10 steps of him when he saw this, and it frightened him and he turned off to walk away. He had gone 10 steps when he heard him cry out, and turning saw him under the wheels. Two others further away testified to seeing him just as he got under the train, but could not tell whether he was trying the desperate experiment of crossing the track under the moving cars, or whether it was a deliberate suicide. Quite a number of people saw him while under the wheels. Other witnesses testified that for several days past Mr. Hunt had not been himself, that there appeared to be something unusual the matter with him. While he had drank hard at times for several weeks past he had drank very little. Dr. Burton testified that he had been treating him for a long time, and that he had, noticed something unusual in his manner for several days; that his nervous system was very much disturbed. After hearing all the evidence the jury found their verdict: "We the jury, find that F.T. Hunt came to his death by throwing himself under the wheels of a moving train, and that the same was suicide." Taylor Hunt had engaged in the sale of liquor for a number of years until about a month or six weeks ago when he sold out his bar to Mr. Fiveash. He had always been of a cheerful disposition, kindly in his manner and dealings, and had very few if any personal enemies. He was his own greatest enemy, in that he drank to excess and this broke down his health. For a year or two he had suffered very much with something like rheumatism and had been under medical treatment. He was a brother to Mr. J.C. Hunt, an Alderman of Valdosta and a respected citizen. His remains were carried to the old family burying ground near Clyattville and buried Sunday afternoon. The oldest one of the Hunt boys William, met with a violent death being the last Confederate soldier killed at Appomattox. The next, Tom, but a few months ago, was killed on the plains out West by the Apache Indians. ~The Valdosta Times. Saturday, 13 November 1886. He was the son of John T. Hunt and Nancy.

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