The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-12-21
AN APPALLING CALAMITY
Suicide OF A PROMINENT CITIZEN,
A TRAGIC SPECTACLE,

fearful calamity has cast its dark shadow
over community, and thrown its terrible blight
over worthy aud highly respected family.
On wednesday Afternoon last, WILLIAM Hous-
TON, one Of our leading citizens and merchants,
aged probably so years OF upward, an industrious
and enterptising member Of the community, a kind
neighbor aud generouslhearted citizen, committed
suicide by cutting his throat with razor from
ear to ear. The news of the horror soou spread,
as it were, the wings Of the wind, and blanched
the cheeks aud flung a gloom over the hearts Of
all who heard the shuddering tale.
For several days previously the deceased had
been severely indsposed, but on Wednesday
morning. he went to his store, and after reaching
there, he was advised by his son TO return home,
as the day was too damp and disagreable for him
to be about. Mr.. HousroN did as his son advised,
and returned home. He ate his dinner as usual,
and shortly after went to his room, an upstairs
chamber, for the purpose Of lying down. After
being up there an hour or more, he came down
stairs, went to the pantry, got his razor, and i'm
rediately returned TO his room. A brief time only
elapsed, when heavy fall was heard, and a little
daughter, running up to ascertain the cause, found
her father lying the floor at the foot of the bed,
face downward, and the carpet stained with blood
The little girl gave the alarm, and an elder
daughter ran up aud endeavored to raise the body
of her father, unconscious of the terrible tragedy
that had been enacted The wife of the deceased
was not in the house at the time of the dread oc-
currence, haying stepped into neghbor's.
The nsighborhood was instantly alarmed, and
Mr.. f. N. BLUE, who was passing at the time, was
called in. He instantly went to the room, and on
turning over the body, the terrible truth flashed
upon the mind in an instant. The jugular veins
and the wind-pipe were completely severed, and
the razor was tenaciously grasped in the right
hand of the unfortunate man.
Indications lead to the suppnsiton that the de-
ceased committed the frenzied act while sitting on
the side of the bed after which he walked around
TO the foot of the bed and then fell face downward
Tracks of blood on the floor and marks Of his
bloody hand on the bedstead are these indications.
1t seems he had made every preparation aud
taken every precaution to insure the successful
accomplishment of self-dcstructiun. His vest was
unbuttoned, as well his shirt and funnel under
shirt, and these latter were turned under as far as
possible, so as to leave his throat completely
barred and unobstructed for the passage of the
deadly weapon.
Three large gashes were likewise discovered
across his abdomen, but whether these were made
before after the fatal cut across the throat, is
matter of mere conjecture. The prevalent opinion
is, that they were made afterwarl.
Such are the fearful and heart-sickeaing details
of this thrilling horror. No cause, whatever, has
yet been assigned to the, commission of the rash
deed. 1t has cast gloom over our people, and
plunged worthy and esimable family in the dires
agony and grief. In their terrible a1liction, they
have Tho sympathies Of an eniira community.