Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-26
A BLIGHTED CHRISTMAS.
DR. m. B. PATTE RSON SENDS A Bull
LET CRASHING INTO HIS BRAIN.

DIR. III. B. PATTE RsON SENDS A Bull
LET CRASHING INFO HIS BRAIN.
Over the joy of one merry household
this bright Christmas morning, and over
the hearts of many citizen of st. Paul,
has fallen shadow whose mystic outlines
are filled with the hooking phantoms Of
seemingly cruel and utterly relentless
fate.
A tragedy that involves the death Of
once honored man is awful to contemplate
at any time, bat at this jocund season Of
the year the shock created by an event Of
this kind seems to be laden with specially
poignant significance.
1t was natural then, that when the news
of the tragic death by suicide OF DR.. Mer-
rill B. Patterson was circulated in this
city yesterday that the joyous and busy
throngs, filled with thousand anxious
and pretty conceits concerning the pleas
ure that was to come with the mornings
Christmas dawn, should pause moment
from their pleasurable pursuits, and re-
gretfully ponder on the painful circu m
stances of this well known citizens death.
The first intimation of his death was dis
covered about 9 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, when his body was found stark and
stiff in the embrace of the grim destroyer
at Oakland cemetery.
1t was strange place for such an aw-
full tragedy, the circumstances Of which
are peculiarly impressive and solemn.
FINDING OF THE BODY.
About o'clock an e1pressman named
George Dufour, had occasion to visit the
northwestern extremity of the cemetery,
his object being to deliver headstone or
vaulting for one of the lot owners.
While proceeding along the driveway he
observed the PROSTATE form OF man
lying on one Of the mounds. He got
down from his wagon and approached
that of DR.. Patterson, whose we'll known
form has been familiar to nearly every
resident in st. Paul.
Observing frlghtful hole in his head,
and making certain that life was extinct,
the frightened man drove rapidly into
the CITY and reported his discovery to
Coroner Davenport The latter, in COM
pany with q GLOBE reporter, started at
once for the scene of the tragedy. 1t was
lovely morning for such horrid dis
covery. The warm rays of the morning
sun fell like benediction on the mounds
where rested the peaceful dead. The
snow glistened brightly, and the English
sparrews chirruped bllthely in the gnarled
and leafless boughs of the trees.
Driving directly to the spot where is
located the burial lot of the Patterson
family. the doctor and GLOBE representa-
tive came to the pathway chosen by the
deceased, as he took his last walk on
earth before the fearful suicide. About
two inches of snow lay on the ground,
and his footprints were as distinctly
marked as if they had just been imprinted.
The expressman, having approached from
the other side, the surroundings in this
direction had not been disturbed.
APPEARANCE OF THE BODY.
The body reclined at nearly full length
on the mound of his young son. In pre-
pairing for the deed he had evidently
used the greatest care and precaution.
His head had fallen to the right of mar
BILE cross that graced the head of the
grave. Placing himself in sitting pos
ture against the standard of the cross he
had fired the fatal shot, which must have
resulted in instantaneous death, as the
head had fallen as described and the po-
sitiOn of the body was perfectly natural.
Directly over his head when the shot was
fired, on the marble shaft, was the in
scription, "Our son, Duane 81. Patterson;
died August 18th, 1872, aged nine years."
To the right of the body was marble
scroll at the head of the grave of
Younger son, and bearing the name,
ssMerrill Patterson" Thus the head lay
between the two graves of his children.
A pearl handled revolver lay between
his legs where it had fallen after the
shot. It contained five chambers, only
one of which was empty. 1t was of the
Tiger make, No. 2, and SO calibre The
right hand of deceased bore the marks of
powder.
On lifting the head up a CHASTITY and
ragged wound was disclosed, the ball
having entered above and little to the
back of the right ear. The body was
frozen stiff. He was dressed in bust
ness suit and wore muskrat overcoat.
His watch and money were found intact
upon his person. From the general ap-
pearance of the body 1t must have lain as
found at least forty eight hours, and per-
haps four or five days.
Officer Merriam was on hand and the
body was carried to Dufour's wagon,
when the sad procession started for the
city.
By this time the news of the terrible
affair had been broken to the family by
Mr.. Orville G. Miller, brother of Mrs.
Patterson. Their distress on hearing of
the calamity was terrible and of too sa-
cred character to adequately describe.
Stees Bros. were sent for and the re-
mains were conveyed to the family resi-
dence, corner of st Peter and Iglehart
streets, where they were laid out.
Fires In New York.
NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-The bonded ware
house of Covert, Acker & Co., II to "a South
street, stored with silks, tobacco and spirits,
burned this evening. The loss will probably
be in the neighborhood of $500, 900, though