The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1880-05-13
Suicide Of A. C. Shaw Of Reed City.

Last Wednesday afternoon our citi
zens were startled by the news thai
Albert G. Shaw, of Reed City, had shot
himself through the heart, while i'm the
back room Of the Prosecuting At
torney's office in Hersey. 1t appears
that he had been arrested on a warrant
issued on complaint of Lyon Il Son, ol
Flint, charging him with forgery, ana
was In charge of UnderSheriff Ross
when he committed the deed. Mr..
Ross says that Shaw asked for paper to
write a letter, went into the back room
of the Office and sat down at the table
to write. His back was towards Ross,
who could plainly see him us he sat
writing ut a table. Deceased penned
the following note:
| ~ was led into this; am not the
one to blame; there are two others, but
they have deserted me. won't squeal,
God pity my wife and little boys. o,
my Alice! ALBERT."
He then placed the writing on the
table, as Is supposed, opened his shirt
bOs0nls, both the outer and undershirt,
took his revolver In his right hand and
placed the muzzle against his naked
left breast and fired, the bullet penetra-
ting his heart; he then fell forward
with his face Oh his left arm upon the
table. Mr. Ross jumped from his chair
exclaiming-"My God! he has shot
bimself!" ran to deceased's side; spoke
to him but he did not answer; then
lifted his head, and his hand fell from
his breast, and the revolver fell OIL the
floor. DIR. Kirkland was called, and
the dying man was placed OH the car
pet. He was unconscious, but con-
IN l,a far \ mi,
till life ceased.
When the shot was fired, Mr.. Ross,
Mr.. Lyon and Frank Beardsley were
in tile fUrnt room, and they all rushed
to the scene. Mr.. Lyon says Shaw
was writhing and groaning when they
came to him. The officers say they.
had no thought that Shaw metlitate,l
such an act, and saw nothing In his
manner nor heard any language that
would leud any pcrsoli'to guard against
an attempt OF the kind. BY his cool
ncss and seeming confidence deceased
put the officers completely OFF guard
against such an act.
AS soon us the first excitement sub
sided, and before it was generally
known OH the street, the Sherilf'notified
Justice Radcliffe, and an inquest was
held. The "f,llowing Jurors were
sworn: Il. u. Raymond, u. Whitney,
J. Il. Burroughs, Fl. T. Lewis, A. Scol-
lay and 9. i. Belamy. DIR. Kirkland,
Wm. IL. g. Lyon, Frank Beardslcy,
w. Ii. Ross and J. w. Mathews were
sworn and examined us witnesses.
Tie jury found "that the deceased,
Albert g. Shaw, of Reed City, came to
his death, by a pistol shot from his
own hand, as u prcmeditated act"
The body was then delivered to the
care Of the Sheriff and was removed
to DIR. Kirkland'ssroom, subject to the
wishes of friends; remaining there till
sent for, by hand-car from Reed City,
late In the evening.
To the poor wife and children the sad
news was indeed a trying ordeal; and
to the many friends the deceased hud
made during his residence I'm Reed
City. We had very high esteem for
him, and felt disposed to look upon his
faults with much cherity. We are
strongly Of the opinion that his state
ment Is true, In regard to others being
concerned with him I'm the crime with
which he was charged. We hope they
may'by some rule of providence, Ge
brought to the bar Of justice, and that
the death Of Albert G. Shaw may prove
q lesson to all who are tempted In any
manner from the path of rectitude and
honor.
In the morning before coming to Her.
sey, to Circuit Court, we learn, that
Shaw told his wife he was I'm deep trou-
BILE, and seemed despondent. This was
before he had been arrested.
In the Office of the Pros. Attorney he
made ready bond with q view to adj
just the matters between himself and
Lyon & Son, and Mr.. Lyon had agreed
to accept the bond, provided the sure
ties would sign 1t. The sureties named
by MIR. Shaw were ID. NJ. Mcclellan,
Stoddard Bros and j. M. Reed. The
bond was In the deceased's pocket when
he shot himself. - Osce0id Outline.