from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, September 30, 1897—page 1, column 6:
SAD SUICIDE
James Bourne, Jr., Young in Years, Shoots Himself
James Bourne Jr., son of James Bourne, the well known druggist of Coatesville, shot himself under dramatic circumstances Thursday night, dying instantly.
He called on his sweetheart for a few minutes, left a note, and as he left the house, placed a revolver against his breast and fired, the ball passing directly into the heart, he falling lifeless.
He had been clerking in his father's store and although but seventeen years old wanted to marry Miss Anna Aubrey who is sixteen. His father opposed the union, thinking his son too young. The matter seemed to prey on the boy's mind until he decided upon the tragic deed. It appears that while his father had not paid him regularly for his services in the store, it was understood that he was to receive a certain amount. The boy had been paid two and three dollars along as he needed money but shortly before the fatal day, the young man had figured up what he had received and what he was to receive which showed $52.65 cents owing to him. He prepared a memorandum of this and left it on the desk so his father could see it. No attention being paid to it by the elder Bourne, the boy left the figures a second time. The father fearing the boy wanted the money to run away to be married still paid no attention to the matter. Then it seems that suicide was determined upon. He wrote two notes of farewell, one to Miss Aubrey and the other to a special friend, Jot McClure. While he was writing these notes in the store, a bystander asked him what he was doing and young Bourne replied: “Making my will.” The bystander replied: “Will me something, won't you?” and Bourne said, “Yes, I will you my good will.” To others, Bourne made apparently wild remarks which in the light of events show that he had decided upon self destruction. Shortly after dark, he went to call on the young lady. She says he said he had lost all of his money and was despondent. They had no disagreement and he started to leave without any words. As he left he handed her a note and as he passed out the door, he took his revolver from his pocket and fired.
The note to Miss Aubrey was:
“DEAR SWEETHEART—I do this because I have to. I have lost all my money. I am crazy. I don't know what I am doing. I am going to h-ll: down the hill at a merry gait. So good-bye for once and all.”
YOUR LITTLE JIM.”
The note to McClure was in the same hopeless strain. These notes are believed to be what he was writing when he had the conversation given above.
Coroner White was called to Coatesville that night and the first rumors gave an appearance as if it might be suicide but that he had been shot by some one hidden on the outside although the fact that the deed was done with his own revolver made this theory look impossible. Prosecutor Gulley and Coroner White spent all of Friday in Coatesville and they left thoroughly satisfied that it was suicide.
Mr. Bourne was well known in Danville he having spent some time here last year in college.
RESOLUTIONS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
Whereas, The Maker of all has seen fit in His judgment to cause the death of one familiarly known as Jimmy Bourne and
Whereas, He was at one time a pupil in this room, and
Whereas, His brother, Ralph, is now a student here, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, teacher and pupils, in the principal's room tender to Ralph Bourne our sincerest sympathy in this bereavement, the loss of a brother and
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be mailed to him.
ANNA WRIGHT
ANNA GAMBOLD
EDGAR PIERSON
JOHN SACRA,
Committee