- Published in the Athens Review March 3, 1938
The body of Mrs. Mattie Richardson, age 50, wife of Dr. Will Richardson, widely known retired Henderson county physician, was found in a small pond in south-east Athens at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The small body of water lies approximately one fourth of a mile south of the Reierson home place.
A searching party composed of Dr. R.E. Henderson, Sheriff Jess Sweeten, Dr. Richardson and Tom Dunklin of LaRue, a brother-in-law of Dr. Richardson, found the body floating in water approximately four feet in depth.
Mrs. Richardson was last seen alive at 6:30 o'clock Saturday morning by a servant at the home. Dr. Richardson had not seen her since 9:00 o'clock Friday night. He awoke Saturday morning and went to town believing that she was following her usual custom of taking a morning rest in her room. Her sister, Mrs. W.T. Langham of LaRue and her niece Miss Janice Dunklin, also of LaRue, became alarmed shortly before noon and began a wide search, being joined by Dr. Richardson when he returned home before noon.
The search was intensified when two notes written by Mrs. Richardson were found in the Richardson home on East College street. One of the notes was written in pencil on the back of an envelope which contained $187.00 in currency. It referred to an intention to take her own life.
Dr. Richardson, at an inquest held at 2:15 o'clock at the small pond, told B.C. Hall, justice of the peace, that his wife had been highly nervous for the past two months and that her health had been breaking since shortly before last Christmas. She had indicated the night before that she intended to quit a small business in milk in accordance with the wishes of Dr. Richardson.
The body was removed from the lake by Tom Dunklin who waded into the small pond. It was taken to the Carroll & Lehr Funeral Home here shortly before 3:00 o'clock this afternoon.
She is survived by her husband; one son, Smith Cain Murphey, born of a prior marriage; two sisters, Mrs. W.T. Langham and Mrs. Tom Dunklin, both of LaRue.
Dr. Will Richardson was suffering from shock following the finding of the body and was under the care of Dr. R.E. Henderson, a neighbor and long time friend.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the Methodist Church in LaRue and burial followed at the LaRue cemetery. Dr. W.G. Fletcher of Athens was in charge of the services and was assisted by Rev. D.R. Cartlidge of Athens and Rev. Lockheart of LaRue.
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1887 - 1938 (50 years)
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