Individual Details

Birth

1900 census shows 1880.

Death

Albemarle, June 9. One of the most awful tragedies in the history of Stanly county occurred eighteen miles west of Albemarle at the little town of Mission on Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock, when Charles W. Furr, a blacksmith, and reasonably well to do white man committed suicide. The deceased used a breech loading shot gun, with which he shot the entire top of his head off. One of his ears was completely removed and one of his eyes shot out. P. J. Huneycutt, coroner, who was called to the scene of the tragedy returned to Albemarle yesterday and reported that he found the deceased lying in the room with his brains scattered over the bed and floor of the room and the walls spattered with blood. He said it was one of the most shocking sights he had ever witnessed. Mr. Furr was in his usually good health up to the time almost immediately preceding the tragedy, but at dinner time announced that he did not care for anything to eat and left the dining room, going into his bed room. Later in the evening his wife heard the report of the gun and went in; to behold the scene above described. In addition to a wife the deceased leaves four small children.
The Charlotte News, Charlotte, North Carolina, June 9, 1916

Charlotte, June 9 — One of the most tragic deaths recorded in North Carolina in many months was that of Charles W. Furr, of the little town of Mission, 14 miles from Concord yesterday, when the victim who had the reputation of being the most powerful man in the South, left his wife and four little children in an adjoining room, took a shotgun from a corner in his bedroom, and blew off the top of his head with a shotgun. He toppled over in a heap as his grief-stricken wife and children, horrified at the scene which met their eyes, rushed out of doors and called for help from the nearest neighbor. The victim of his own rash act was a giant in size, strength and height. He was nearly 6 1-2 feet tall and weighed more than 200. He was a blacksmith by trade and it had often been said of him that he could handle any three men in the county together at the one time. His muscles were like iron and his strength phenomenal. The dead man was 35 years of age, a respected resident of Stanly County, a good farmer and citizen and one of the best blacksmiths in the State.
The Herald, Rock Hill, South Carolina, June 9, 1916