Born in Oakland Twp.
cause of death: Suicide.
Husband of Harriet A. "Hattie" Woods.
Father of Henry Wood Axford and Joseph Mackey Axford.
Daily Morning Call - San Francisco, CA, p. 1., col. 6 March 30, 1883.
"An Invalid's Suicide.
Los Angeles, March 29.--The body of a man named W. Axford was found lying alongside the road about six miles below the city yesterday. By the side of his body was the broken neck of a bottle, with which an artery had been cut and the deceased had bled to death. Last Thursday Axford, who came from Flint, Michigan, for the benefit of his health, took an overdose of morphine, from the effects of which, by prompt application of restoratives, he recovered. The next day he disappeared and was found as stated. A note was found on the body addressed to his wife, who left him here to visit her uncle in Calaveras county."
Los Angeles Daily Times p. 2 29 March 1883
"A SUICIDE
Wm. O. Axford, Late of Flint, Mich., Takes his Life
The Instrument of Death is a Broken Bottle--Incidents of the Melancholy Affair--Note to his Wife
Last Friday the TIMES contained an account of what was almost a fatality at the boarding house of Mr. Adams on Fourth street. The circumstances were that a gentlman named William Axford had taken an overdose of tincture of digitalis and nux vomica, and had also taken a lot of morphine pills, which he had procured from Dr. Allen for the purpose of inducing sleep, as he was troubled with insomnia. He was found in an almost insensible condition, but was revived under the care of Dr. Lotz, of Denver, who was a guest in the house. A melancholy sequel to the chapter was furnished yesterday, when the body of Axford was discovered lying on the ground alongside of the road about six miles south of this city, in the neighborhood of Mr. Joughin's ranch, the vital spark having fled. After recovering from the effects of his overdose at Mr. Adam's, Axford left the place and his friends did not know what had become of him, though they searched diligently. It seems he went out to where he was found either on Sunday or Monday morning, as he was seen during the day Monday. He was also seen on Tuesday and his actions were such as to give the impression that he was intoxicated, but such was not the case, and it was extreme weakness that caused the impression. On Wednesday morning he was found in the same place where he had been seen lying on the previous day, but dead. He had cut an artery in his left arm with a piece of a bottle, the upper portion or neck having been used evidently, as it lay near him and was stained with blood. He had no knife about him. In his pockets were a number of letters which he had received, and beside him lay a photograph of his family group, consisting of himself, wife and two children, on the back of which he had written, in a very good hand, the following:
"My dear Hattie--When this news reaches you I will be in my grave. You will not be forgotten. Kiss the little ones for me. Your affectionate husband,
Will."
There was also another picture of a middle-aged lady, but no money or valuables. The body was brought in to the undertaking rooms of Ponet & Orr and an Inquest held, the verdict being that he came to his death by his own hand.
Axford was from Flint, Michigan, and was born and brought up in Oakland county. His father was one of the wealthiest men of the county, and his wife was also of a wealthy family. He was a graduate of the law department of the Michigan University, and a member of the Masonic Order. He came to Los Angeles with his family some five or six months ago, stopping with friends for a time and afterwards opening a boarding house in one of the new houses in the Pavillion block, but as they were unsuccessful the project was abandoned, and Mrs. Axford and the two children went to her uncle's at Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, where she now is. Axford was troubled with fits and his sufferings were most terrible to witness at times, and the physicians think he also had softening of the brain, which incpacitated him from attending to any business. He probably realized his condition and thought to end his misery by taking his life."
cause of death: Suicide.
Husband of Harriet A. "Hattie" Woods.
Father of Henry Wood Axford and Joseph Mackey Axford.
Daily Morning Call - San Francisco, CA, p. 1., col. 6 March 30, 1883.
"An Invalid's Suicide.
Los Angeles, March 29.--The body of a man named W. Axford was found lying alongside the road about six miles below the city yesterday. By the side of his body was the broken neck of a bottle, with which an artery had been cut and the deceased had bled to death. Last Thursday Axford, who came from Flint, Michigan, for the benefit of his health, took an overdose of morphine, from the effects of which, by prompt application of restoratives, he recovered. The next day he disappeared and was found as stated. A note was found on the body addressed to his wife, who left him here to visit her uncle in Calaveras county."
Los Angeles Daily Times p. 2 29 March 1883
"A SUICIDE
Wm. O. Axford, Late of Flint, Mich., Takes his Life
The Instrument of Death is a Broken Bottle--Incidents of the Melancholy Affair--Note to his Wife
Last Friday the TIMES contained an account of what was almost a fatality at the boarding house of Mr. Adams on Fourth street. The circumstances were that a gentlman named William Axford had taken an overdose of tincture of digitalis and nux vomica, and had also taken a lot of morphine pills, which he had procured from Dr. Allen for the purpose of inducing sleep, as he was troubled with insomnia. He was found in an almost insensible condition, but was revived under the care of Dr. Lotz, of Denver, who was a guest in the house. A melancholy sequel to the chapter was furnished yesterday, when the body of Axford was discovered lying on the ground alongside of the road about six miles south of this city, in the neighborhood of Mr. Joughin's ranch, the vital spark having fled. After recovering from the effects of his overdose at Mr. Adam's, Axford left the place and his friends did not know what had become of him, though they searched diligently. It seems he went out to where he was found either on Sunday or Monday morning, as he was seen during the day Monday. He was also seen on Tuesday and his actions were such as to give the impression that he was intoxicated, but such was not the case, and it was extreme weakness that caused the impression. On Wednesday morning he was found in the same place where he had been seen lying on the previous day, but dead. He had cut an artery in his left arm with a piece of a bottle, the upper portion or neck having been used evidently, as it lay near him and was stained with blood. He had no knife about him. In his pockets were a number of letters which he had received, and beside him lay a photograph of his family group, consisting of himself, wife and two children, on the back of which he had written, in a very good hand, the following:
"My dear Hattie--When this news reaches you I will be in my grave. You will not be forgotten. Kiss the little ones for me. Your affectionate husband,
Will."
There was also another picture of a middle-aged lady, but no money or valuables. The body was brought in to the undertaking rooms of Ponet & Orr and an Inquest held, the verdict being that he came to his death by his own hand.
Axford was from Flint, Michigan, and was born and brought up in Oakland county. His father was one of the wealthiest men of the county, and his wife was also of a wealthy family. He was a graduate of the law department of the Michigan University, and a member of the Masonic Order. He came to Los Angeles with his family some five or six months ago, stopping with friends for a time and afterwards opening a boarding house in one of the new houses in the Pavillion block, but as they were unsuccessful the project was abandoned, and Mrs. Axford and the two children went to her uncle's at Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, where she now is. Axford was troubled with fits and his sufferings were most terrible to witness at times, and the physicians think he also had softening of the brain, which incpacitated him from attending to any business. He probably realized his condition and thought to end his misery by taking his life."
Born in Oakland Twp.
cause of death: Suicide.
Husband of Harriet A. "Hattie" Woods.
Father of Henry Wood Axford and Joseph Mackey Axford.
Daily Morning Call - San Francisco, CA, p. 1., col. 6 March 30, 1883.
"An Invalid's Suicide.
Los Angeles, March 29.--The body of a man named W. Axford was found lying alongside the road about six miles below the city yesterday. By the side of his body was the broken neck of a bottle, with which an artery had been cut and the deceased had bled to death. Last Thursday Axford, who came from Flint, Michigan, for the benefit of his health, took an overdose of morphine, from the effects of which, by prompt application of restoratives, he recovered. The next day he disappeared and was found as stated. A note was found on the body addressed to his wife, who left him here to visit her uncle in Calaveras county."
Los Angeles Daily Times p. 2 29 March 1883
"A SUICIDE
Wm. O. Axford, Late of Flint, Mich., Takes his Life
The Instrument of Death is a Broken Bottle--Incidents of the Melancholy Affair--Note to his Wife
Last Friday the TIMES contained an account of what was almost a fatality at the boarding house of Mr. Adams on Fourth street. The circumstances were that a gentlman named William Axford had taken an overdose of tincture of digitalis and nux vomica, and had also taken a lot of morphine pills, which he had procured from Dr. Allen for the purpose of inducing sleep, as he was troubled with insomnia. He was found in an almost insensible condition, but was revived under the care of Dr. Lotz, of Denver, who was a guest in the house. A melancholy sequel to the chapter was furnished yesterday, when the body of Axford was discovered lying on the ground alongside of the road about six miles south of this city, in the neighborhood of Mr. Joughin's ranch, the vital spark having fled. After recovering from the effects of his overdose at Mr. Adam's, Axford left the place and his friends did not know what had become of him, though they searched diligently. It seems he went out to where he was found either on Sunday or Monday morning, as he was seen during the day Monday. He was also seen on Tuesday and his actions were such as to give the impression that he was intoxicated, but such was not the case, and it was extreme weakness that caused the impression. On Wednesday morning he was found in the same place where he had been seen lying on the previous day, but dead. He had cut an artery in his left arm with a piece of a bottle, the upper portion or neck having been used evidently, as it lay near him and was stained with blood. He had no knife about him. In his pockets were a number of letters which he had received, and beside him lay a photograph of his family group, consisting of himself, wife and two children, on the back of which he had written, in a very good hand, the following:
"My dear Hattie--When this news reaches you I will be in my grave. You will not be forgotten. Kiss the little ones for me. Your affectionate husband,
Will."
There was also another picture of a middle-aged lady, but no money or valuables. The body was brought in to the undertaking rooms of Ponet & Orr and an Inquest held, the verdict being that he came to his death by his own hand.
Axford was from Flint, Michigan, and was born and brought up in Oakland county. His father was one of the wealthiest men of the county, and his wife was also of a wealthy family. He was a graduate of the law department of the Michigan University, and a member of the Masonic Order. He came to Los Angeles with his family some five or six months ago, stopping with friends for a time and afterwards opening a boarding house in one of the new houses in the Pavillion block, but as they were unsuccessful the project was abandoned, and Mrs. Axford and the two children went to her uncle's at Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, where she now is. Axford was troubled with fits and his sufferings were most terrible to witness at times, and the physicians think he also had softening of the brain, which incpacitated him from attending to any business. He probably realized his condition and thought to end his misery by taking his life."
cause of death: Suicide.
Husband of Harriet A. "Hattie" Woods.
Father of Henry Wood Axford and Joseph Mackey Axford.
Daily Morning Call - San Francisco, CA, p. 1., col. 6 March 30, 1883.
"An Invalid's Suicide.
Los Angeles, March 29.--The body of a man named W. Axford was found lying alongside the road about six miles below the city yesterday. By the side of his body was the broken neck of a bottle, with which an artery had been cut and the deceased had bled to death. Last Thursday Axford, who came from Flint, Michigan, for the benefit of his health, took an overdose of morphine, from the effects of which, by prompt application of restoratives, he recovered. The next day he disappeared and was found as stated. A note was found on the body addressed to his wife, who left him here to visit her uncle in Calaveras county."
Los Angeles Daily Times p. 2 29 March 1883
"A SUICIDE
Wm. O. Axford, Late of Flint, Mich., Takes his Life
The Instrument of Death is a Broken Bottle--Incidents of the Melancholy Affair--Note to his Wife
Last Friday the TIMES contained an account of what was almost a fatality at the boarding house of Mr. Adams on Fourth street. The circumstances were that a gentlman named William Axford had taken an overdose of tincture of digitalis and nux vomica, and had also taken a lot of morphine pills, which he had procured from Dr. Allen for the purpose of inducing sleep, as he was troubled with insomnia. He was found in an almost insensible condition, but was revived under the care of Dr. Lotz, of Denver, who was a guest in the house. A melancholy sequel to the chapter was furnished yesterday, when the body of Axford was discovered lying on the ground alongside of the road about six miles south of this city, in the neighborhood of Mr. Joughin's ranch, the vital spark having fled. After recovering from the effects of his overdose at Mr. Adam's, Axford left the place and his friends did not know what had become of him, though they searched diligently. It seems he went out to where he was found either on Sunday or Monday morning, as he was seen during the day Monday. He was also seen on Tuesday and his actions were such as to give the impression that he was intoxicated, but such was not the case, and it was extreme weakness that caused the impression. On Wednesday morning he was found in the same place where he had been seen lying on the previous day, but dead. He had cut an artery in his left arm with a piece of a bottle, the upper portion or neck having been used evidently, as it lay near him and was stained with blood. He had no knife about him. In his pockets were a number of letters which he had received, and beside him lay a photograph of his family group, consisting of himself, wife and two children, on the back of which he had written, in a very good hand, the following:
"My dear Hattie--When this news reaches you I will be in my grave. You will not be forgotten. Kiss the little ones for me. Your affectionate husband,
Will."
There was also another picture of a middle-aged lady, but no money or valuables. The body was brought in to the undertaking rooms of Ponet & Orr and an Inquest held, the verdict being that he came to his death by his own hand.
Axford was from Flint, Michigan, and was born and brought up in Oakland county. His father was one of the wealthiest men of the county, and his wife was also of a wealthy family. He was a graduate of the law department of the Michigan University, and a member of the Masonic Order. He came to Los Angeles with his family some five or six months ago, stopping with friends for a time and afterwards opening a boarding house in one of the new houses in the Pavillion block, but as they were unsuccessful the project was abandoned, and Mrs. Axford and the two children went to her uncle's at Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, where she now is. Axford was troubled with fits and his sufferings were most terrible to witness at times, and the physicians think he also had softening of the brain, which incpacitated him from attending to any business. He probably realized his condition and thought to end his misery by taking his life."
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