Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-09-02
SUICIDE OR
The Death Of DR.. ". v, NcCoy. =

surmised that the unfortunate man, in
a sudden fit of dependency, had put
an end to his existence by shooting
himself through the brain. Whether
such was truly the case, is and will
always remain an unsolved mystery,
but from the testimony of the witnesses
before the Coroner's Jury yesterday,
nothing indicating such to be the fact
was adduced. TIE most important
witness stated that up to a moment be-
fore the time of his death, deceased
was in unusually cheerful spirits.
That death by an accident was the true
cause, is now believed by many, and
this theory becomes more plausible
when it appears that the last action of
the deceased was in accordance with
an established habit, that of taking his
pistol from his pocket to lay it aside
on his return home. 1t is thought that
Immediately on leaving his fathers
room he attempted to take the pistol
from his pocket, and in looking at the
weapon it was by some means dis
charged. The course taken by the
ball substan.ia.es such n possibility.
and the testimony of the physician and
other witnesses go far to prove tina the
tragic ending of his life was not ac-
c~ompanied by any suicidal intent. To
give additional weight to such a theory
no marks of powder are visible gu his
face, while, had the deceased inter dcd
killing himself i'm this way, lie would
have held the weapon close to his
head and the face would not have es-
capped being thus stained by powder
marks.
Coroner Eorowsky yesterday morn
ing summoned a jury and the follow
ing is the EVIDENCE brought out be-
fore it,:
John s. Capron, being first duly
sworn, deposes and says: That he re-
SIDES in Eureka. State of Nevada. !
have been acquainted with deceased
oycr Il wear; his name is W. w. Nc
Coy. Jr.; his age, 33 years; by occupa-
tion,a physician; he was IL single man;
his relatives living are his father,
mother, brothers and sisters: l have
lccn acquainted with deceased both in
Eureka and SaE Franchises; he came
from san lose, California;: | recognize
the body lying here as that of w. W.
Mccoy. Jr.
Ey Mr.. Hetxel--Did you see the de-
ceased Yesterday?
Answer did no..
Q--Do you know of any cause why
he should take his life?
Al can assign no reason that he
should; no man had brighter pros
poets for the future. He and his faith
CT we've living on the most amicable
terms, being more like companions
than father and SOn
Thomas Weaver, sworn: | am a resi-
dent of Eureka, and by occupation II
gardener. Have been acquainted with
deceased a little over one year and
recognize the body as that OF W. W.
Mccoy. Jr.; he came home from town,
| think. about ten minutes past five
O'Clock yesterday afternoon; when he
came home had supper ready upon
the table; he stabbed his horse and
came right in; the Major ~(dcceascd's
fathcr) and myself were eating supper
at the time he came i'll; he sat down
and eat his supper, and When finished
eating he went to the Majors room.
whore his father had preceded him; !
think he was there about a minute:
after he went into the room, | was
cooking something ut the Fireplace,
when | heard Il Siio., and turning saw
the doctor fall; he was in the middle
room when he fell; l think the dis
lance is about fifteen feet from where
stood: the door leading from The oon
| was in 10 Tie one III which tho doctor
fell was Open. and | could see him
plainly; the silo. attracted my at:en-
ton, and | turned at once and saw
ti,,. E,i1. ! fI.,,, -, md t,,,1 IL
ceased lying OF! the floor: he sill had
lie III HIM; | saw Il dcrr;ngcr pistol
lying within two or two and Il half
feet Of him. near the kitchen door; |
picked the pistol up, without thinking,
and laid il Oh the table: | 90 not know
who took il away; the pistol was about
three orfaur inches in length: | can
say Pc >itivelY that it was Il single bar
rel and can not say whether it was
loaded Oh no: there was no other per-
son in the oil when the shot was
fired; if there had been any II there
certainly would have seen him.
BY Il .iuror-ilave you V seen the
drryiM3cr carried by deceased before:
a. Yes; many a tinie.
Witness shown dcrring2r.) This is
the one | have seen deceased carry.
BY Mr.. lIe;2cl-Was the deceased in
the habit OF carrying a dcrringpr?
a. Yes; hui he always laid the
same aside when he came home.
q. Was the Doctor in good spirits
when he came home?
\. IeS; he was always in good
spirits when he anne home; he was
always laughing and Joking When lie
came in. There va no reason in my
mind why he should commit suicide;
/ I ho,n IX-,j with hip, Sn,-ar,l n,nntiy
and his temperament WAS always
lively.
NJ. X. Clamblin. sworn: That lie is
a resident of Eureka, and that he has
examined the body of deceased. When
| arrived at the house | found deceased
lying in the nidile of the room on tho
1!oOr on his back, in 4 large pool OF
blood; | turned the head over and eX-
ainined the wound, and found that lie
was dead; l found Il large wound in
the right temple; the bones OF the
right side of the head and a portion Of
those of the face We're fractured; por-
tons of the brain We're exposed; the
wound had the appearance of being
caused by either Il gun or pistol shot,
such AS would almost of necessity
have produced immediate death.
BY the Coroner-Wol,ld Il shot from
a derringer, held parallel with the
head, produce the same kind OF Il
wound?
\. Yes.
Rediiect-I think from my eXamin-
alton that the wound ranges upward;
the ball might have coine out on the
right side, still it is difficult to tell-it
might have lodged in the brain, and l
think that such is the case. There
were no powder marks about the
wound; in my practice | have always
noticed that when Il weapon is held
close To the head powder marks are
visible. This occurred at $3.50 O'Clock
T.. VI. August 3l>t, 1874.
The above We're all the Witnesses ey-
amincd, and at the conclusion the jury
retired. and in il few moments returned
the following as it's verdict: