Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-09-15
SUICIDE OF JONATHAN HOLT.


HIS Body Decomposed Found na.ein< to
the Rafters Of His Dwelling.
Financial Depression Suppoosdd tn IN sho
cause Of His Self Destruction.
The INTELLIGENcER yesterday had an
account Of the suicide of Jonathan Holt in
Reading, deceased beinga former resident
Of this city. The Eaglo has the following
details Of the tragic affair
Mr.. Holt was last seen ON Saturday
afternoon at four o O'clOck. He then had
conversation with his brother, Robert
Holt. His family, consisting of wife and
two children, have been at Lancaster Wis
iting friends for the past two weeks. Mr.
Holt was the proprietor Of the nickel
plating works at the corner Of Ninth and
Bingaman streets, and employed from \
dozen to fourteen men. He usually paid
his employees on Saturday, but did not do
so last week. He seemed greatly depress-
ed, which was ascribcd to an illness of \
few weeks standing, that Of chills and
fever. He was seen on Saturday in the
street by Thcs. Lillis and p. Y. Gillian,
who, however, only badc him the timo OF
day. He also attended the Republican
convention in the forenoon, and after Sec
ing his brother Robert, it is supposed he
went directly to his home, as his subse-
Iuent whereabouts cannot bc accounted
for. The neighbOrs did not sec him on
Sunday or Monday. MIR. Holt was always
very prompt, it is said, in appearing at his
shop in the morning, and on Monday, when
he did not appear something was thought
to have happened. This morning the men
commenced work rs usual and when he
did not como, two were selected to go to
his homo and ascertain his whereabouts.
All Of Monday afternoon and night there
was strange smell pcrvading the atmO-
sphere in the vicinity Of Mr.. Hollis house,
and Tuesday morning it continued. Frank
FichthOrn, a young man residing at the
corner Of Willow street, volunteered to &c
company the two wOrkmen. one of whom
was David Kitchen, Nr. Hollis nephew,
into the lattcr's house, and the three went
up stairs through the house, COS South
and assembled to the roof. They cautiously
ret window of Mr.. HOlt's house. Ficl-
thorn was in front. A white curtain hung
over the window. Fichthorn pushed it
aside, and jumped in. Here q horrible
sight mot his gaze. The body of Mr.. Holt
was hanging to q rope attached to the raf
ters Of the attic. Tho tongue prOtrutled,
tho cyeballs were forced halfway from
their sockets ard the face was swollen
to almost twice its natural size. Dark
blOtches had already gathered on the skin,
and the smell arising from tho body is
described by tho men who found him
rs being terrible in the extreme. 1t was
greatly dccOmpOsed and modification had
already SC. in, and the putrid stencil drove
them to the outside. They summoned
several others, and Henry Scdar, young
man, cut tho body down. a good stout
rope was fastened tightly around the sui
citle's neck, the knot being pressed behind
the car. Tho legs were stretched out in
front of the body, which was only about
six inches from tho floor When cut down
the body was carried down stairs into
secOnd-stOry room to await tho cOrOncr's
arrival. Jacob Becker, Jacob Warner,
George Butler and John McGcc closely
followed Mr. Scdar, and saw him cut tho
body down. A large crowd soon gathered,
but all who had no business inside were
prohibited from entering. Coroner Kelly
arrived shortly after eight o'clock, and ut
his direction the house was closed.
Monday night when Mr.. HOlt's absence
became alarming, the following telegram
was sent by Robert Holt to Charles Evans,
Lancaster, where his wife is staying: els
Jonathan over there? Something wrong
here. Answer at once" A dispatch was
received that the husband was not there,
and various places wero searched but
without success. Mr.. Holt's children arc
aged respectively three and eight years.
When their fathers body was found Rob
crt Holt sent a telegram to Lancaster that
Mrs. Holt should hurry home ut oncc, as
her husband was at the point Of death.
She at once started for home before the
news of his suicide reached her.
Jonathan Holt, the suicide, was always
considered IN honest man. lie stated to
friends a month ago that he feared that
the sheriff would levy on his property soon
and appeared greatly discouraged. De-
ceased was born in York county and was u
coach blacksmith by trade, but he worked
ut it only short time. He went to Ian
caster, where hc resided for some time and
was foreman in 4 weaving department of
a cotton factory. About eleven years
ago he came to Reading and found employ
ment in the cotton factory. During pc
riot' of about three years, up to last fall.
he was employed at tho Reading hard,
ware works, foot Of Sixth street, part
of the time as time-kceper. Last spring
lo purchased the galvanizing works locate.l
on South Sixth street, below Chestnut,
and 4 few months ago he removed the es-
to Ninth and Binsaman streets,
where he rented the building formerly Oc-
cupicd rs hardware foundry. lie was
prominent Grccnbackcr for several years,
making speeches in the wards and attend
ing the ward meetings. lie was formerly
I Republican, and was ut one time clerk or
council when that party held n
1t is supposed that his financi.l
and his inability to prompt
y meet his creditors, coupled with i'll health,
'aused him to seek his own death.
David Kitchen, nephew Of deceased,
aid to IN Eagle reporter that Holt was
rot in good health for some time; that
omc three years ago Inc was afflicted with
'ttacks Of epilepsy, and that last Saturday
! week ago he had an attack which lasted
bout two and half hours. lie was also
'illictcd with malarial fever.
WELCOME, AMERICA.