16-Year-Old Commits Suicide at Saw Mill Camp, Nov. 8, 1923

Demented Youth Points Gun at His Breast and Pushes Trigger with Broom Handle. . . Tommy Hill, 16-Year-Old son of George Law of Lebanon Township, Committed Suicide at Saw Mill Camp Wednesday Afternoon about 3:30 O’clock—Hole Torn in Chest

Putting the muzzle of a double-barreled shotgun to his chest and pushing the trigger with a broom handle, Tommy Hall, 16-year-old adopted son of George Law, of Lebanon township, Wednesday afternoon committed suicide in a room of a saw mill camp at the old Moss place in the upper end of Lebanon township. The entire load of one of the barrels entered the lad’s body, and he never spoke again, dying within a few minutes after the act.

The boy, with his adopted father, had been working at the saw mill for some days, boarding at the former Fed Law’s homestead with a group of workers at the mill. No work was done in Wednesday afternoon and about 3 o’clock one of the group suggested hunting. The boy went for the gun, and in a short time the shot rang out.

For some days the boy is said to have declared that he would rather be dead than go through life under the affliction of a weak mind. While not exactly an imbecile, it was generally recognized in the community that he was afflicted mentally. He is said to have been a good-sized boy and a hard worker, but handicapped by his mental condition.

When several negro youths ran into the room at the sound of the gunshot, they saw Hall fall to the floor. He is said to have still had the gun and broom handle in his hand. The boy had placed the butt of the gun on the bed, pointing the muzzle upward to his chest. The shot tore a terrible hole in his body.

Some of the boys, who were hanging around the front porch of the dwelling, ran for help, but at examination proved that hall had died very soon after the shooting. The body was not removed until after Sheriff Howard, Coroner Will Sneed, and Deputies Will Hall and Lonnie Morgan arrived on the scene. A coroner’s jury was organized and the verdict rendered that death came at the youth’s own hands.

The youth had no relatives, as far as the officers could ascertain. He is said to have been adopted by Mr. Law some six years ago, and since that time made his home in Lebanon township.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at the Little River church, near where burial will follow.

From page 2 of the Durham Morning Herald, Thursday, Nov. 8, 1923. Headline calls him Tommy Hill, first reference in story calls him Tommy Tall, and remaining references call him Tommy Hall.