Notes:

Death Notice:

Clarkton Man, 47, Commits Suicide

Fired Rifle Into Brain; Had No Hands, But Used Stick

No reason is known for the suicide of A. V. Davidson, member of a well known Clarkton family, who took his own life by shooting himself through the head with a .22 caliber rifle about 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon.

Dr. G. I. Gilmore, county coroner, arrived at Davidson's home shortly after 6 o'clock that evening but did not hold an inquest since it was apparent that he had committed suicide.

A. V. Davidson, 47 years old, was collector of Freeborn Township. He had no hands, they having been cut off above the wrists in an industrial accident in Flint, Mich., several years ago. Despite this handicap he had learned to write without hands and do other things, seemingly impossible for one so afflicted.

His friends and relatives, including his deputy collector, Mrs. Hildebrand, could give no reason why he should have taken his life.

The coroner, in searching his pockets, found two notes, both penciled on the backs of candidate cards. One, in his shirt pocket, read: "Please forgive me for this but I feel this is the best for all of us." The other, found in a trouser pocket, read: I am doing what I should have done years ago."

He was alone in the house at the time he shot himself. When found he was seated on a hassock, his head resting on a table against which it had fallen. The shot from the rifle, which he had held between his knees, penetrated his skull between his eyes and went through, coming out behind. A great quantity of blood had flown from the wound. The shot was fired by using a stick to push on the trigger of the rifle.

On June 20, as Collector for Freeborn Township, Mr. Davidson presented his annual settlement to the County Court which was refused by that body since it showed balances due various funds aggregating $1,1512.32.

However, at this time, according to County Treasurer Drew Vardell, he had already paid into the treasurer a substantial part of these balances due and had made subsequent payments until at the time he took his life. Mr. Davidson only had $76.46 remaining to be paid.

Mr. Davidson was the son of W. T. Davidson, who is still a resident of Clarkton. The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Jewel Davidson; a daughter, Miss Blanche Davidson, 24, who taught last year at the Simpson school, and a son, Van, 17.

(Published in The Twice-A-Week Dunklin Democrat on July 5, 1938)

Artie married Mary Jewel Crow 18 May 1913, Baird, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA. Mary (daughter of James L. Crow and Miranda Jane McCarty) was born 11 Nov 1892, Clarkton, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA; died 30 Aug 1981, Clarkton, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA; was buried , Stanfield Cemetery - Clarkton, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet]

1. Vera Blanche Davidson was born 10 Aug 1915, Clarkton, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA; died 18 Jun 2007, Clarkton, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA; was buried 22 Jun 2007, Stanfield Cemetery - Clarkton, Missouri, USA.
2. Artie Van Davidson, Jr. was born 8 Aug 1920, Clarkton, Dunklin County, Missouri, USA; died 31 Aug 2003, St. Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA; was buried , Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - Lemay, Missouri, USA.