Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-26
FRAN The PbiladciDhid Gazette.


Horrible Case Of Crime and Suicide.
This morning about q o'clock, J. G. Boyd,
late Cashier of the Towanda Bank in Bradford,
county, of this state, committed suicide at the
house of Mrs Seymour, in Schuylkill 7th St.
few doors below Vine ST. by shooting himself
in the head with pistol, of which wound he
died a few minutes after 10 o'clock. Tie COM
mittcd the act in front bed room on the second
story, under circumstances that leave no doubt
that he designed TO take his life rather than
submit to become an inmate Of the prison. Ii
appears that he has been in the city since Sat
urday last, and as was his practice made this
house, the home Of his mistress, his place of
lodging. Yesterday morning he was arrested
there while at breakfast, by officer Saunders
of the Sheri1's office, at the suit of the Bank
of Penn Township, involving claim for thirty
one thousand dollars, growing out of some
transactions of his with that Bank, while he
was connected with the Bank at Towanda,
He remained in the custody Of the officers du-
ring the whole day and night up to the moment
of the act which hurried him into eternity.
Part of yesterday he was at the Office of WIN.
|. Ilirst, Esq, Counsel for the Bank of Penn
Township, and last evening proceeded with
the officer to the Bank for the purpose OF effect
ing some arrangements in relation to the claim.
They remained there until after ten o'clock
and then proceeded to the Office of Constantine
Gilliou, Esq, his Attorney. where he remained
until after four o'clock this morning-the officer
then procured Cab with the intention ofcon-
veying him to the Debtors apartment OF the
Moyamensing prison, but at Boyd's request
went to the house Of Ms Seymour Tor the
purpose, as he said, to take his clothing and
portmanteau with him. Here he packed up
his clothes, and burning one or two letters,
brought his Clothing into the parlour down stairs
He then expressed desire to go up stairs for
'one article more when the officer said you
cannot 60 without me, and they both procee-
ded up stairs, Boyd entering the room while
the officer remained at the door. In moment
the female in the room, who 1t appears had
gone In uboCt the same moment, exclaimed my
God, he has shot HIMSELF when looking into
man lying there in reality a suicide. The
| whole tragedy was but the work ola moment,
and so calm and cool was the deceased that no
one suspected that he had any design upon his
life. The report of the pistol was not louder
than that OF percussion cap, and until the ey-
clamation of the female the officer was not a.
ware ofany such deed. Medical aid was called
in but 10 assistance could be afforded as it was
evident that the injury sustained by him mus,
result in death. No traces of the ball were
asccrtained except that it entered the roof OF
his mouth, and must have lodged in the vicinity
of the base ofthe brain.
During the time he fingered, from O'Clock
until 10, he was perfectly sensible, said nothing
however of his circumstances or condition, anc
to the enquiry how he held the pistol he replied
4 don't know don't trouble me- The de
ceased is supposed to be about 30 years of age
and has wife and two children living in Gov
ington, Tioga county, in this state
His wife was a Miss Cleaver, and ncico o
Jonathan Knight, Esp late President of tn,
Bank of the Northern Liberties.
Boyd has not been connected with the To
wanda Bank, as Cashier, since about the first o
January.
The pistol with which he done the deed, wa.
found by his side and the fellow to it wa
taken out of his pocket loaded. 1t is evident
therefore, that he had them with him all TN
day and night willie in custody Of the officers
/ as no opportunity was afforded to him 10 obtail
them any where or from any person, and tina
il was his intention to commit the rash &C
rather than 10 go to prison.
; Up TO the time our reporter left the house
the Coroner had not been there, and we can sa
nothing of the verdict of the jury. But fron
the circumstances, there can be no question
Of II verdict of suicide being rendered.
From The Utica Obserrer.
The Freshet.
Immense Flood-Nohawk Bridge Swept A
way-Reinarkable Escape of George Woo
ford and John McGee. and other Incidents.
Thursday morning, o o'clock, February
The rain during the last night has put the sno'
upon a complete run, and the various stream
are swollen to an immense height. The M'
hawk has risen two feet above high water mari
and great fears are entertained for the satet
of the bIiduc at the foot of Genesce stree