The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-10-12
nEArHs norNss.
The Suicide sabbath Morning.


sudden Death Of J. L. snedskeR.
Sunday morning last, a. the Sabbath
school bells were calling the children and
adults to their deVotions, the peace and
quiet Of the hour were disturbed by the
startling news that . man had committed
suicide at the store Of A. WollesOn, on
Commercial street, whittier We hurried,
with scores of others, nj i3und there ly-
ing upon . lounge still &C stark in death,
the body Of an old man named Charles
Hoffman, who came here in June last,
from New York City. He was aged lit
tie upwards OF fifty years. He had been
III for some time and suffered intensely
from dyspepsia. he worked for himself
In Mr. W.'s manufacturing dep artmsnt.
4 few days before he had been induced
to 60 TO bed At his boarding place, Van
McCulIoch's Indians house, until ne got
better. His physician had 81 ven him
medicine which brought Temporary relief.
He had slept well Saturday night after
ing and came to the store. Mr.. Rasmus-
sen, the clerk, and another party slept
in . bed In the shoe shop just back OF the
store. Mr.. r. was up when the old gen.
tleman came and was engaged In selling
underclO.hing 70 q stranger. The old
man entered the store complaining Of great
pain and pressing his hands upon his
stomach. a moment after he went 70 the
back room. The other occupant Of the
bed had not yet arisen, but was lying up
on his back reading = Newspaper. At the
head Of the bid stood . stand, upon
which laid = small smith or WesSon
pistol. The old gentleman walked about
the back room = short time and finally
approached the stand unnoticed by the
gentleman in bed and took up the pistol.
He went 70 the front T DOM and sat down
upon . lounge in the rear part Of the
store, in such position IS to bring 3 post
in,the room between him and Mr.. Ras-
museen who was waiting upon the custo-
mer. Soon Mr.. B. heard the noise caused
by the cooking Of the pistol. he quickly
stenped back where he could get view
Of Mr.. Hoffman, and was just in time to
see the smoke Of the pistol. Hoffman had
placed the muzzle ut the upper part Of
the temple on the right side end fred, and
sent the ball through his brain. He died
Instantly and WithOuta Struggle. There
was an ugly wound in his head, and on
the floor was . pool Of blood which ran
dOwn below the foot Of the lounge. The
face wore rather q peaceful lock and the
weary soul had gone on its flight to test
the realities OF the other world. Poor
old man. There was none to drop . tear
over his remains. Mr.. Hohman's wife
died about year ago in New York, and
his only daughter went to Europe. Both
Mr. WOlleson and Van McCullOch give
him An excellent name. He was quiet
and temperate and seemed to want TO
avoid giving any one the trouble Of tax
ing care Of him. It was this that led HIM
few days before to refuse the Kind oner
Of Mr.. Wolleson to go to his home and
remain until he got better. He had
been heard to say he was tired Of living,
and had fits Of melancholy, but no one
suspected him OF any intention to take
his own life. He Is said to have owned q
house and lot in New York. Coroner
Chittenden living some distance from the
city, Esq. Bachelor summoned the fol-
lowing jury and held an inquest: b. B.
Lowe. j. 81. Davis, Geo. B. Cooper, John
Crowner, E. T. Nichols, and W. o. Fer
gusOn. The verdict was that Mr.. Hon.
man came to his death from pistol shot
fred by himself.
DEATH OF J. L. sNEDEKER.