Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-12-22

George p. Clarke. q man we'll known In
Gold Hill. committed suicide In Virginia
City at 10 o'clock last night. He was
standing on the sidewalk in front Of the
National saloon at the time he committed
the desperate deed. When . NEws re-
porter arrived at tho scene. Clarke was
lying on his back on the street with .
great crowd Of men around him. while .
physician was sndsavoring TO ascertain
the direction taken by the bullet. Rough
Hardy, who Was standing within two feet
| Of the man II tho time the shot was fred.
WA the only person who saw the act. In
| relating the circumstance he said that Of
/ first be thought the shot came from the
/ house, but that a. Clarke fell he saw the
pistol In his hand. II WAS evident that the
| pistol was heavily loaded. ~ the report
made BY II Was 80 loud that II was heard
two blocks away. The unhappy man vas
| undoubtedly determined 10 make . clean
lob Of Il, and he succeeded perfectly. The
ball entered Just above the right ear. the
muxzls Of the weapon being placed so Close
a 10 burn the hair Of the head. A very
~
large hole was made In the skull. The
| pistol Is q small ~silver-mountcd dsringer.
| and il the same one used by Peter Hsarn.
who killed himself In Bullion RAvine. Gold
| Hill, a few months ago. Coroner Hodges
was notified Immediately. and at once took
possession Of the body.
Clarke was drinking some yesterday. and
was noticed going In and out OF the
saloons several m during inc evening.
Several days ago clarke TOLD iAro ae,ier
named George Perkins thai he intended 70
commit suicide, for tho reason mat no
could not refrain from drinking. lie sAid
that his father died OF delirinm tremsns'
and that he dreaded such . fate. lie Tex
hibited . bottle Of lAudanum and said he
intended 10 escape further suffering by
committing suicide. Perkins endeavored
10 talk him out Of the notion, but he
reiterated his threat OF sslt-desuucuon'
and asked Perkins ~ see w. IL. smith.
Superintendent 81 the Belcher mine, and
have him put . railing around his grave.
Clarke said he wa . native OF Calais
Maine. and that he had left that state on
account of ZONE trouble concerning .
woman. This seemed to be the Creates,
source Of his trouble. though he imputed
the most OF ID 10 drinking. lie left vir-
GINA that night and came TO Gold Hill.
and his friends thought nothing more OF
his wild talk until they found him lying
ON tho street last night. with . bullet
through his brain.
A NEWS reporter called a. The iiAiiroad
Saloon In Gold Hill this morning and TO
ceived from John Freeman. the proprietor
Of the saloon. the following Particular
concerning Clarke's past life. He said /:
I knew George T.. Clarke; he WAS born In
T~atamagouche, New brunswick, but served
his apprenticeship In Maine. lie was .
carpenter by trade. and has worked ON the
Coms,ock Tor several years. think be
was between 40 and ~ years Of age. He
vas my partner in this saloon until about
. week ago. whom he sold out and lett Tor
Carson. Just as he WAS about 10 leave ne
said he thought l could Afford to give him
tho deringer which was In tho caoi-
net. said all right. and opening
the cabinet handed him the pistoi. IN