If it had not been for bad luck, Charlie Brown would not have had any luck at all. Twice he narrowly escaped death when his automobile turned over on him, and in 1914, at the age of 48, he got so angry at one of his workers that he lost control and killed himself.
The headlines on the August 21st issue of the Madera Tribune carried the tragic news: “WEALTHY RANCHER SUICIDES; CHARLIE BROWN, LONG TIME RESIDENT OF MADERA COUNTY SUDDENLY TAKES LIFE FOLLOWING ARGUMENT.”
Charles Brown was one of the best known and most likely the wealthiest rancher of this county. He ended his life suddenly on a Wednesday night at six o’clock by firing a bullet from a Smith and Weston revolver through his brain.