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From: "Elsimae Morse" <>
Subject: [OREGON] Wilcox, Sawyer, Deady
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 17:58:27 -0700

I ran across this in the Stockton, CA paper and thought someone might be interested. Please let me know if you would like the copy:

Stockton Daily Independent
April 21, 1877

Shocking Suicide
Portland (Or.). April 18. - This forenoon, just before the convening of the United States Circuit Court by Judges Sawyer and Deady, Dr. Ralph Wilcox, Clerk of the Court, committed suicide in his rear office by shooting himself through the head with a Deringer. Death was instantaneous. Judge L. Sawyer heard the report of the pistol and was among the first to reach the scene. Deceased entered his office at 8 A.M., pulled off his overcoat, sat down on a lounge, and placing the muzzle of the weapon against his right temple, fired the fatal shot. He had been drinking quite heavily of late, and his despondency and singular actions had frequently been the subject of remark. He leaves a wife and large family. He was aged 59 years. Mr. Wilcox was one of the early pioneers of Oregon. He came to the State in 1845, served during 1846-7 in the Legislature under the Provisional Government, and was a member of the Territorial Legislature in 1851, filling the position as Speaker.!
He was Register of the Land Office from 1856 to 1860; served as Clerk of the United States Court for Washington county; received the appointment of Clerk for the United States Courts of the State in 1863, which position he filled most efficiently up to the time of his death. A note found on his person assigned strong drink as the cause of the suicidal deed. A bottle of laudanum was also found in his pocket.

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• [OREGON] Wilcox, Sawyer, Deady by "Elsimae Morse" <>