Claud E Richards was born August 14, 1880 in Tennessee to Jerome E. Richards (1856-1922), who was at a time Chief of Police for the Memphis Police Department, and Minnie DeMumbrie (1858-1928). He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad, first as a gate keeper, then as a conductor. Claud died by his own hand, a shotgun wound, on December 4, 1905, in front of his family. Family lore has it that Claud was involved in a relationship with a young Italian factory worker and this his mother disapproved of the relationship due to socioeconomic factors. He is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery Midtown in Memphis, Tennessee, along with his parents.
Below I have transcribed Claud’s obituary as it appeared in The Commercial Appeal, December 5, 1905. I feel as though it is very likely that he he had spent the morning with his girl, then returned to his parents home, perhaps having words with his mother. This may be what led him to commit suicide. We will never know the real story, however, as no one who was witness to his act is still alive.
(I transcribed as best as I could see. I left in the misspellings that appeared in the original.)
Popular Illinois Central Conductor Dies By His Own Hand at the Residence of His Father, Jerome E. Richards, on Lucy Avenue
Wrapped in the arms of the mother to whom he was greatly devoted, listening to her plaintive appeals to know why he had committed such a rash act, pressing his lips against hers-feeling upon his cheeks the same caresses that were showered by her upon his baby face when he first came into the world-Claud E. Richards, 493 Lucy avenue, and by his own hand.
The story of the death of the young Richards is as tearful as it’s cause is mysterious. His making off was of his own volition, but the controlling influence which directed the suicide, which steeled the arm and nerved the hand to fire the fatal shot, will doubtless be buried in the narrow cell to which this afternoon will be consigned the remains of the very popular young man who passed away, and so tragically, yesterday. One moment he was a picture of health-strong, buoyant, apparently happy and contented. The next he lay bleeding upon the floor, the ball from a revolver fired by himself had passed into and entirely through his body, snapping the vital cords and sealing his doom beyond the hop of human redemption. In an instant he passed from health beyond human aid. The skill of the physician was baffled, but with every indication that his weary eyes had pierced the infinite beyond without catching a glimpse of anything of which to be afraid he softly muttered with his last breath:
“Kiss me good-bye, mother; I am dying now.”
MEMPHIS WAS SHOCKED
Memphis was shocked shortly after noon yesterday by the report that Claud E. Richards, and Illinois Central railroad conductor and a son of Jerome E. Richards, clerk of the criminal court, had committed suicide at the family residence, 493 Lucy avenue. The innumerable friends of the family were slow to believe the report. Young Richards had ingratiated himself into the good graces of scores of people by his many loveable traits of character, and by his sunny disposition, and it was difficult for those who knew him to think that he would take his own life. However the report was true, and when the sad news, which spread about the city with wonderful rapidity, was verified hundreds of people called at the home to express their sorrow at the young man’s untimely end and to offer their condolences to the family in the hour of trouble.
Since 1900 Mr. Richards had been in the employ of the Illinois Central railroad. For three years past he had been a conductor. He arrived in Memphis at 3 o’clock yesterday morning after completing his run on the northern branch of the system. With the exception of a short time spent uptown he was at his home throughout the morning.
Shortly before noon Mr. Richards worked upon his time report and straightened out such papers as he used in the operation of his train. At the noon hour we went out to dinner with other members of the family. Around the table were his mother, Mrs. Minnie Richards, his brothers, Bluford N. and Clegg D Richards; his sister, miss Minnie; Mrs. J.E. Richards, Jr and the two children of his brother J.E. Richards.
APPEARED VERY HAPPY
Prior to the midday meal and while at the table Mr. Richards was in his usual happy frame of mind., to all appearances if there was any trouble of any kind worrying him, or if he had planned self destruction previous to that time he gave no outward appearance of it.
At the conclusion of the meal Mr. Richards walked out of the dining room and into the hallway. His mother, followed him. He then started up the stairway, but after going some four or five steps returned. He then came back into the hallway and was crying in a hysterical manner. In his hand was a revolver. He rushed into the edge of the parlor and placing the weapon against his breast, fired the fatal shot. The ball passed into the left breast and, ploughing its way through the vital organs, lodged beneath the skin in the back.
The mother of the young man was dazed by what she saw. The other in the house were horrified at the report of the revolver, and rushed to where the prostrate form lay. Telephone messages were sent for physicians and in a short time Drs. Raymond, Ruddsill, and Castles arrived. Within a short time after the shot was fired Mr. Richards rallied from the shock and recognized his mother, who was bending over him and pleadingly imploring to know why he had done such a rash act. If he felt much pain he did not evidence that fact. He called his mother and asked her to kiss him good-bye, saying that he was going to die. The little sister, Miss Minnie Richards, and the children of J.E. Richards, Jr., were also called to him and affectionate kisses were showered upon him.
In a little while Jerome E. Richards, the father, received notification that his boy had shot himself, and hurried home. When he went into the room where the wounded young man lay he was recognized, and was bidden an affectionate farewell. Still later J.E. Richards, Jr., came, but when he arrived his brother did not know him.
Young Richards fired the fatal shot shortly after 12 o’clock. He lived almost forty-five minutes, and it was mot phathetic and most painful three-quarters of an hour that the members of his family ever spent or ever will spend. But the most soothing thought in the broken-hearted mother and to the other loved ones who gathered about him will be that through it all he gave no evidence of fear when he realized he was in the presence of death, but seemed soothed and sustained by the affectionate embraces of the mother and closed his eyes peacefully and passed into the great beyond with a smile upon his face, while his mother’s lips were pressed against his.
GAVE NO WARNING
Neither before nor afte
r he was shot did Mr. Richards give any reason for taking his life. There was never the slightest intimation that he contemplated such a deed. Even when his mother pleaded with him to tell her why he shot himself and asked him if he was not sorry, he only replied that he was sorry, without saying why he had sent the ball into his breast.
After his death the body was placed in charge of Collins & McDowell and was prepared for burial. The funeral will be conducted from the family residence at 3 o’clock this afternoon and will conducted by the Order of Railway Conductors.
Mr. Richards was 25 years of age. He entered the service of the Illinois Central railroad in 1900 as a brakeman and was three years ago placed in charge of a train as a conductor. He was a member of the O.R.C., and was unmarried. He is survived by his father and mother, Jerome E. and Minnie Richards, his sister Miss Minnie, and his brothers J.E. Jr., Bluford N, and Clegg B Richards.
Few young men in Memphis had so many friends as Claud E. Richards. He endured himself to all who knew him by his sunny disposition, his genial nature and his steadfast loyalty and devotion to his friends. He inherited much of the strength of character of his mother and many of the lovable traits of his father. His death occasioned widespread comment and general regret.
I can’t imagine how my great-grandmother, Miss Minnie Richards, felt watching her brother shoot himself. The thought of it makes my stomach hurt, actually.
Below is a copy of the burial permit for Claud E Richards.
Maybe by posting this someone out there will have some information on exactly why he took his own life. If there was a factory worker love interest that caused this riff in the family that may have been a leading cause of his act, then maybe someone will know and step up and tell me!
As always, if anyone has any information on Claud, feel free to contact me or comment!