The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-04-16
suicide of u Wretch Afraid of the
GaIl0wH.


A very deliberate suicide of man who
was laboring under guilty conscience, &C
CURED Thursday night, 7th inst, at the lit
tie village OF Hartsville, lew miles below
Wllkesbsrrs, on the Susquehanna. The
nume Of the victim 10 Jack Freeman. He
was employed as laborcr and was engaged
with others in the work OF erecting number
of houses for miners who had gone in new
collieries that have been recently opened
near HartsvilIe. Freeman had been acting
very strangely ever since the advent OF the
numerous new comers. He had spells oi
moodiness, and at thess times he would
leave his work and retire to his home. Yes
terdsy he quit work about o'clock and
went to his cottage. He was in one Of his
mOody dts. After entering the house he re-
marked 10 his wife: "l'm not going to let
them gel any advantage over me, and am
going to shoot myselt." HIS wiie looked at
him with some surprise, and replied: sway,
Jack, what 10 the matter with you ? you ale
crazy" He answered: swell, il ! don't
shoot myself, they will arrest me aud hang
me-" With this he walked into bed rooin
and took up AN old army musket that stood
IN one corner. He loaded il with powder
and ball aud then went TO table aud on a
piece OF paper wrote the following IN a clear
hand: I'm not guilty ., anything, but cant
stand it," This piece paper he pinned ON
his breast and then went out and tendery
kissed three of his children and his wife,
bidding each Of them goodbye. Que lad
named Willie was absent and he inquired
for him. lie was told that he was in u
grove near by aud he stepped out and called
MIN. Sunn the little fellow came running
toward him. When he csIne up with his
lathe: the latter caught HIM IN his arms aud
kissed MIN. tears running down his cheek
as lie did ~. Alter TINS Freeman went into
the house and sat quietly down in chair.
Subseq the wife went for q pitcher
OF water 10 u spring short distance out and
upon her return she heard the sharp report
uf u gun. She ran 10 the house aud asked
the children where their father WAS They
pointed toward the bed room door, which
she instantly opened. She passed. inside
aud there she discovered her husband well
teTing IN his own bloOd upon the door. The
musket was lying by his side, and it had
done horrible work. Freeman was quite
dead, and upnn the ceiling remnants ui
brains and skull were spattered Sunie Ol
the neighbours were called and jury was
subsequently, empanneled by the village
Justice OF the Peace. At the examination
the vile WAS questioned as 10 what she knew
| about The cause that led her husband to Ia Ike
his life. The poor woman seemed perplexed
at fiIst, but finally she startled the Jury by
saying: well, he is dead now and | dare
tell" Tnereupon she gave information
which implicated her husband in the muir.
der OF man in Janesville, Wis, some time
sg', and also with having been mixed up
with river mystery near Wilkesbarre last
sum mer, where the body Of a man was
hurled from bridge into the Susquehsnns
one dark night. Il is thought the woman
felt she would rather SEQ her husbs nj die by
his own hands than 10 hea- ut some future
time Of his death OH the gallows.