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JAMES L. TAGGART, SUICIDE
James L. Taggart Shoots Himself Thro’ the Head
[Welland Tribune, 10 May 1895]
WELLAND-May 5-Our usually quiet Sunday town was sadly startled about 2 o’clock last Sunday afternoon by the report that Mr. James L. Taggart had committed suicide at his residence here, by shooting himself through the head. Investigation proved the report to be entirely true. Mr. Taggart was an old and well-known resident of the town of Thorold. For some time past his wife and daughters have been living here and carrying on a restaurant and ice cream business, next to the Dexter house, Mr. Taggart, however, continuing to work at his trade shoemaking at Thorold. On Saturday evening he came to the house here suffering severely of neuralgia and rheumatism. He was almost wild with the pain. He refused to have a doctor called at first, but on Sunday consented, and whilst the doctor was being sent for, alone in an upstairs room, shot himself. Upon members of the family going upstairs he was discovered in the throes of death. The ball had entered the head in front of the right ear, and remained in the head, the revolver being a small one, only 22 calibre. He lived but five or ten minutes after the shot. It is supposed the deed was done in a time of temporary insanity produced by pain and disease. Deceased leaves a widow, three sons and three daughters. He was born in what is now the village of Merritton, and lived nearly all his life in Thorold where he kept a shoe shop. He was at the front as a volunteer during the Fenian troubles of 1866, as a sergeant in the Thorold company of volunteers under Captain James. His body was interred at Lakeview cemetery, Thorold, on Wednesday. The pall-bearers were Capt. James, James Weeks, Wm. Winslow, Geo. Turner, P. Steep and Wm. Martin, all of whom were comrades in arms with deceased at Fort Erie in 1866.
There were two policies of $1000 each on the life of deceased. One for $1000 was sold or assigned several years ago. The other was in the Canadian Mutual Aid, and we are not in a position to say what shape it is in. Mrs. Taggart and two daughters and one son live in Welland; one daughter-Mrs. Burnison-lives near Fenwick, one son lives in Thorold, and one in Chicago. All have the respect and esteem, and at this time the deep sympathy of all who know them.
Died: 5 May 1895
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