Sellers - James M. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

James M. Sellar, one of the best known citizens of Montgomery County, died last Saturday from the result of a dose of morphine taken with suicidal intent.

Mr. Sellar had been officing for some time past with Morgan & Lee and last Saturday at a quarter past seven when Mr. Lee entered the office he saw Mr. Sellar sitting at the table in the southeast corner of the room, apparently asleep, his head lying forward on the table. A moment later Mr. Lee perceived that his sleep was not natural, as his breathing was quite irregular and labored. Realizing that the case was a critical one he stepped to the telephone and called up the offices of several doctors, but it being early he found no one in at any place. He then hurried around on Green Street and at the office of Dr. Jones found a boy who called the doctor’s residence. Dr. Gott was also found and the two physicians arrived about the same time. They at once saw that Mr. Sellar was suffering from morphine poisoning and administered antidotes hypodermically, the patient being too far gone to swallow. Their ministrations were too late, however, as Mr. Sellar died shortly before eight o’clock. On the table beside him he left an unfinished letter written on the letter heads of the Elks’ Society, the table belonging to Mr. Morgan. It is evident that he had begun the letter after taking the poison and probably after he felt its effects. The communication was written in an uncertain hand and toward the close was quite rambling in character. The poison was working more rapidly than he thought and before he had concluded with his signature his fountain pen dropped from his nerveless fingers. It was found lying on the table by the side of the unfinished letter on which his head rested. The letter was as follows:

“To Whom It May Concern—with me life has been a total failure. It might have been entirely different. There has been no one to blame for this difference save myself alone. I have raised quite a family and they are each member superior in general and special subjects of all kinds. I have been the poorest kind of a financier for everyone and especially for myself. I am preparing to leave the world badly in debt to it. I have, as is usually the case with a worthless husband, been blessed with the bravest, purest, truest, and most patient wife ever given to a man. I have abused the best set of friends ever possessed by one man. I feel that I am a dead weight, entirely too heavy for the worthy willing members of my family to carry. Indeed, they will be better off without me than with me. Feeling so, why should I live to be an onus—a dead weight for others to carry? I have chosen the morphine route as the cheapest and most certain. Let no one try to pay my debts. They are paid by this act of mine. If I could, I would suggest a few I would rather see paid than others. I freely forgive those who have wronged me. Hoping this explanation explains. I now feeling tired and sleepy, I subscribe myself.”

After his death Coroner Dennis was called and held a short inquest, returning a verdict of suicide. The body was then removed to the Carver undertaking establishment where it was prepared for burial. The suicide of so prominent a man as Judge Sellar naturally caused a decided sensation and there was much discussion of it on the streets. It seems that he intimated his purpose to no one and those who know him best are firmly convinced that he went about his plans soberly and deliberately, actuated by the reasons set forth in his letter. Friday afternoon he was in his office reading the papers and looking over his law books. Messrs. Morgan and Lee state that there was nothing unusual in his demeanor then. In the evening several persons saw him and he did not appear in his usual good spirits, nor was he so cordial as was his wont. About ten o’clock he went with Willis Dickerson, the shoemaker at McClamroch’s, to his room and they there played five games of checkers. Mr. Dickerson then noticed nothing unusual in his actions or words, but stated on Saturday that in the light of what since transpired, he can see that Mr. Sellar was hardly at himself, being less talkative than usual and rather abstracted. At the time, however, he thought nothing of it. Earlier in the evening Judge Sellar had complained to Ol Gill and others that he had a severe headache and that he believed he would take morphine to relieve it.

Harry Morgan sleeps in a little room just in the rear of the office in which Mr. Sellar died. He states that between twelve and one o’clock Mr. Sellar entered the office and turned on the light. This interfered with Mr. Morgan’s sleep, so he arose to pull down a screen. He then saw Mr. Sellar at the table writing. Between four and five in the morning Mr. Sellar was then sleeping heavily. Mr. Morgan thought nothing of this as Mr. Sellar had on several occasions previous passed the night in the office. It has been known for some time past that Mr. Sellar had not been in the best of health or spirits. He suffered greatly from neuralgia, his pain at times being intense. He appeared to reproach himself greatly too for not having made a greater use of his opportunities and talents, and not long ago stated to a member of the bar that probably he would be better dead than living.

Mr. Sellar was born in Walnut Township, this county, in December, 1845, being the son of William A. Sellar, a pioneer resident of the county. In school he was bright and promising, and displayed then the genial traits of character and the warm hearted nature that afterward popularized him with those who knew him. He was a leading member of the country debating societies and his most formidable opponent was the late Governor Mount, who was raised on a farm not far distant from that of William Sellar. After going through the common schools Mr. Sellar attended the Wesley Academy, then a thriving institution, and was graduated from there with honor. He decided to practice law, and began his studies in Illinois. He did not long remain in that state, however, but came back to Indiana, locating at Williamsport. After a short residence there he came to Crawfordsville and was admitted to the bar. He was associated with several firms and for about a year was out of the practice, being then the editor of the Crawfordsville Review, then the organ of the Democratic Party in this county.  He re-entered the law after his journalistic experience and in the seventies became the partnership with the late Jas. Wright, the firm continuing until the fatal illness of Mr. Wright, which compelled his retirement from work. After Mr. Wright’s death Mr. Sellar left the firm’s office in the Binford block and went to the office where his death occurred.

As a member of the bar he was decidedly popular with his associates and demonstrated ability of a high character. He had a legal mind and was quite forceful as an advocate. He was a fair man in the trial of a cause, and had he devoted himself assiduously to his profession he would have been an eminent success. In politics he was an ardent and uncompromising Democrat and no man stood higher in the councils of the party here in Montgomery County than he. In 1884 and in 1888 he was the chairman of the county committee and at all times was one of the leaders. He not only did committee work but he was an untiring campaigner and canvassed the county and adjoining counties as an orator. In 1891 he was elected joint senator from Montgomery and Putnam Counties and served as a hold over in the legislature of 1894. As a member of the legislature he made quite a favorable record and displayed remarkable ability in getting bills through. He was the author of several measures that are now laws.

In 1896 he was a candidate before the Democratic State Convention for the nomination for governor and went to the convention with the support of the Ninth District. It developed early in the fight, however, that Mr. Shively would be nominated, so Mr. Sellar’s name was not presented. It was understood, however, that in case of Democratic success that year that Mr. Sellar was to have received an excellent position. He was a man of genial temperament who cherished no grudges and who was wholly without malice. He seemed to like everyone and was liked by everyone. He seemed sensitive to his weaknesses and probably suffered more on account of them than did anyone else.

His family, by whom he was held very dear, was wholly unprepared for the awful shock of his death and it falls upon them heavily.

In 1871 Mr. Sellar was married to Miss Laura Heaton, daughter of the late James Heaton. She, with three children, survives him. The children are William, Wright and Sadie.

The funeral of James M. Sellar took place last Monday at ten o’clock at the family residence on Whitlock Avenue, Rev. S. W. Goss officiating. Quite a large number of people were in attendance, the members of the bar attending in a body, and furnishing the pall bearers for the occasion. The interment was at the Oak Hill Cemetery. - s