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PATRICK
WHITE GOES TO HIS FATE IN
COLD WATERS
Body of Unfortunate Rancher Found
Saturday Morning
Near Star.
Harassed for years by sickness and
lately by the obsessions of a disorganized mentality, the body
of Patrick White found everlasting rest yesterday when it was
laid by grief stricken friends in a grave at Mr. Calvary
cemetery. Funeral services were held at the Catholic
church, says the Nampa Leader-Herald.
Mr. Peterson. Dear Family - I have cost you enough, so
goodbye. Do not look for me. I will try and go
where no one will know me.
"Pat White."
This note, water soaked and blurred, was found
in one of Whit's pockets when the body of the deceased Nampa
rancher was taken from the Boise river near Star Saturday
morning. It is the only word relatives have had from the
unfortunate man since he left his ranch, where he lived with
the family of his brother-in-law, Iver Peterson, Tuesday
morning. It is generally taken as proof that White came
to his death through accident rather than suicide.
Noticing the water rippling over a blue object lying in the
shallow near the ford he was crossing, A. G. Chenowith a
rancher, investigated and found that it was the body of White,
clad in overalls, heavy shirt, underwear, and walking shoes.
This discovery was made at 11 o'clock Saturday morning.
Chenoweth immediately notified a neighbor who returned with
him to view the body. They did not remove it but
telephoned to the county coroner, who arrived several hours
later in company with Sheriff Froman. An inquest was
deemed unnecessary and the body was taken to Caldwell from
whence it was shipped to Nampa Sunday.
From the condition of the body when it was found, Coroner
Faris thinks that White was drowned some time Wednesday, the
day following his disappearance from his ranch one miles north
of Nampa. It was found in shallow water, too shallow for
drowning, so that it is impossible to tell just where White
met his fate. The current could have carried it miles
down the river between Wednesday and Saturday.
The reason for White's disappearance still remains a mystery.
The general belief is that he was mentally deranged and did
not fully realize what he was doing. While at times he
was perfectly rational, there were days when he showed
unmistakable signs of mental disorder and it appears not
unlikely that he was suffering from one of these attacks when
he wandered from home.
Mrs. Peterson,
his sister, stoutly denies that White was closely confined to
the house and that it was the chafing under this restraint
that caused him to depart. "My brother was allowed every
possible freedom consistent with his physical and mental
conditions," said Mrs. Peterson yesterday. "We tried to
keep him on the ranch as much as possible, but we never
forbade him to leave it. His relations with Mr. Peterson
and me were always of the friendliest nature. We never
quarreled. I cannot understand why he left us."
Neighbors say they never heard of any trouble between White
and his sister and brother-in-law. |
