The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-09
DEAD BY HIS OWN HAND.
A MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE.

Last Sunday morning about half past ten
o'clock, as G. P. Frymire was on his
way to church, he was attracted by the cries
of little son of NJ. W. Nuss on East street.
| and on inquiring what was the matter, the boy
replied that his "papa was lying OH the floor,
! and his face was al red" Mr.. Frymire en-
tered the house, and on reaching the kitchen,
was met by an appalling spectacle. On the
floor, lying fiat on his back, was NJ W. Nuss,
his face covered with blood, and his right hand
graspng small pistol. NJ. c. Woodward WAS
Immediately called in, and hasty examination
showed that life was extinct.
Mrs. Nuss and her eldest daughter were At
church. and messenger was sent for them. a
heart rendng scene took place on their arrival.
DR.. Gardner was called in, and found that the
ball had passed through the roof Of the mouth
Subsequently, on probing, he found that the
ball had gone through the brain and was stopped
| at the back of the head by the skull. Death
must have been ins stantaneous. The forehnger
and thumb Of the lie # hand were backened with
powder, showing that the deceased must have
held his mouth open with one hand and fired
the pistol with the other, with the muzzle be-
tween the thumb and foreinger The position of
the body was such as to indicate that he sat
down on the floor in the kitchen and shot him
self in that position, Immediately falling over
on his back, and the hands falling in natural
position across the breast. There was but one
pool of blood, and that on the floor at the left
side of the head Esquire Brewer was notified
and Coroner's jury empaneled, as follows
Geo. Z. Elwell, foreman, William Hart n. U.
Funk, G. ..P. Frymire, NJ. c. Woodward and vii.
ard Gsddis. Afer being sworn, the jury viewed
the body, which had not been moved from the
position in which it was found, and then ad-
journed until two O'Clock Monday afternoon,
to meet at Esq. Brewers office.
Mr.. Nuss was Deputy Prothopotary of this
county at the time of his death. He was edu-
Gated at the Normal School, having been a
member of the first class ever graduated at the
institution. He taught in the public schools
here for several years, and on the election of B.
F. Zarr as Prothonotary, he served two terms
as Deputy, and was continued in that position
by William Krickbaum. In the performance ce
of his duties, he was careful and reliable, and
was always courteous and oblging to those hav.
| ing business in the office. Az Secretary of the
Agricultural Society, he had also given general
satisfaction.
He was a member of the Reformed church,
and an active worker in the Sunday school
Sunday morning was the first time he had not
attended for some years. He did not get up
with the rest of the family, as he said he was
not feeling we'll, and would not go out,
Soon after their departure, for Sun
day school he arose and put on his pants
came down stairs in his bare feet and few mo.
ments before ten o'clock, ushered himself into
eternity. A lady living near says that at about
that time she heard crack like the discharge
of pistol but paid no attention to it.
On Saturday he was in his office dinl
to his duties ss usual, and spoke to person
present of some work he had to do on Monday
In the evening he appeared to be in his usua
good humor, No possible cause can be assigned fol
the rash act, and the whole affair is mysteri
Gus one. There can be no doubt that he inten.
tionally put an end to his life by his own hand
and from the circumstances 40 far as known a
]
was not in his right mind when he did it. Hi
family the sufferers by this horrible tragedy
have the warmest sympathy of the entire com
munity.
CoRoNER's INQUEST.
! Pursuant to adjournment, the Coroner's in
quest met at the office of j.. Brewer, Esq
on Monday at two o'clock p. m. G.. p. Frymir
was the fret witness. He testified to the find
ing Of the body, as stated above. NJ.
v oodward also testified as to the position G
the body.
DR.. b. F. Gardner was sworn, and said tina
he was called in little before half past te
He thought that Nuss had been dead not NOR
than five or ten minutes when he got there. II
examined the wound and found that the ba
E passed through the roof of the mouth into tn
brain and lodged in The back of the hea
against the skull The wound was undoub tedl
made by the pistol in his hand.
b. +. Zarr was affirmed and said that III
, deceased was man of very peculiar tempers
ment, He had never noticed anything abou
him that looked as though he was insane, bu
thought there was balance wheel lacking. II
was very easily depressed, and could not bea
, up under trouble. When there was snythin
0 weighing on his mind he would complain c
i his head. There is insanity in the famil,
/ Ona uncla mt hi throat sno,ba. mall -