Person Page - 4669

Chas. McPhail Suicide at Farm Home Friday
Sat Down Under Tree and Shot Self Through Heart with Pistol; Burial Set for Friday
     Charles McPhail, 66, farmer living three miles south of Ingalls, committed suicide near his home early Friday morning, May 29, 1931, by shooting himself through the heart with a .45 caliber U.S. government automatic pistol.
     The suicide's body, propped against a tree about 200 yards from his farm house, was found by Mrs. McPhail, who heard the shot.
     Poor health and despondency are thought to be responsible for his suicide, believes Sheriff M. J. Bradley, who with County Attorney Ernest Jenkins, investigated the case early Friday.
     The theory that financial matters may have caused the death was discounted by Sheriff Bradley who said McPhail was a prosperous farmer with considerable acreage in cultivation.
     The decedent is said to have returned home from Ingalls late Thursday in a dejected condition and to have got his gun. Mrs. McPhail removed the cartridges but some time during the night or early morning they were discovered by the decedent. He was seen to leave the home between 5 and 6 o'clock Friday morning and sat down under the tree where he shot himself.
     Charles McPhail was born near Walshville, Ill., October 18, 1865. He was married to Geneva Stallings July 31, 1906. He came to Oklahoma in 1905 and settled on the farm where he lived until his death.
     The decedent is survived by his widow, two brothers, Tead McPhail, Walshville, Ill., and Hall McPhail, Litchfield, Ill; two half-sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Barlow, Walshville, Ill; and Mrs. Mattie Hudspeth, Walshville, Ill; a half-brother, Lon McPhail, Litchfield, Ill.
     Funeral services were conducted at the Strode Funeral home Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

—Stillwater Gazette, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 5 Jun 1931, p 1

James M'Phail Dies on Sunday
Death Follows Stroke of Apoplexy Suffered Several Weeks Ago
James Hardin McPhail, 2545 East North street, died in his home at 5:30 o'clock Sunday morning. He was 63 years of age. Death was caused from a stroke of apoplexy several weeks ago, from which he never recovered.
     Mr. McPhail was born in Walshville, July 10, 1864, and came to Decatur about 10 years ago. He was a member of the Methodist church of Litchfield, and a former member of the B. of R. T. For a number of years he worked as switchman on the Wabash and also on the Missouri Pacific.
     He is survived by his wife, Adda Belle McPhail, and the following children: Ralph, Kenneth, and Velma Leezy of Decatur and James William of East St Louis. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Hudspeth and Mrs. Lizzie Barlow, both of Walshville; and the following brothers, Ted McPhail, Chet McPhail and Lon McPhail, all of Walshville: Charles McPhail of Oklahoma, and Hal and Bert McPhail of Litchfield; and three grandchildren.
     The body was removed to the Moran & Sons funeral home and will remain there until 9:50 o'clock Tuesday morning when it will be taken to Litchfield. Services will be at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in that city and burial will be in the Litchfield cemetery.

—Herald and Review, Decatur, Illinois, 25 Jun 1928, p 3