Chico Record, Sunday, June 13, 1909: "P.M. Anderson, Magalia Ridge Miner, Hangs Himself Near Stirling City. Body Found Swinging From Tree in Deep Ravine. Act Accomplished Two or Three Days Ago -- Cause Yet Unknown. Swinging from the end of a rope swung over the limb of a pine tree, in a deep and isolated ravine, the body of Phillip M. Anderson, a well known miner of the Magalia district, was found yesterday at a point between Stirling City and Doon, 150 yards from the line of the Butte county railroad. The man had been dead for two or three days. Coroner John Wallace left for Stirling City last evening to hold an inquest which will be followed by the interment of the body in this city today.

"The grewsome discovery was made by J.L. Thompson, a ditch tender. Thompson started down the ravine, one seldom visited, to look for a place to fish lower down. In passing through a thick clump of trees he was horrified to come on the body with the feet swinging two feet above the ground. He went back to Stirling City and notified Constable Clay Buchanan who made an investigation. Indications were that deceased had taken the rope from a roll of blankets, clambered on top of a bent over tree and thrown the rope over a low hanging limb of another tree. Doubling the rope and fixing it around his neck he jumped off the bent over tree, hanging himself. A letter addressed to deceased was found in his pocket, but was not opened by the constable. No other direct evidence as to why the deed was committed was found.

"The deceased was a native of Missouri, aged between thirty-eight and forty years. He came to California fifteen or twenty years ago and after marrying in Butte county took up his residence at a point midway between Magalia and Paradise. He followed mining and was employed for many years at mines on the Magalia ridge. A few weeks ago he went to Stirling City to work in a mine there.

"Surviving are a widow and four children. The parents and brothers and sisters surviving reside in Missouri. He was a son-in-law of J.P. Smith of this city and a nephew of Robert Anderson.

"The coroner's jury returned a verdict last night of death by strangulation."