The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-27

ne Shoots Himself Mortally on a
Thronead ThopoushfhFe, IN the Heart
ofthe City.
One Of the most horrible and sickenips oc-
cnrsuces that It hasbeen the lot of the city
pres to record for long time took place
yesterday afternoon about o'clock, james
Ferguson, well known mailer, formerly
employed at the Belmont Mill, committed
suicide on the sidewalk of Fourteenth street,
only a few feet from Market, where throng
Of people had been passing all day.
Persons In that locality heard pistol shot,
the sound apparently coming from the lirnc:
ton Of POllack'S Mill, A crowd OF several
hundred people gathered In an incredibly
short time, ut the Fourteenth street entrance
to the mill, where, ON the doorstep lay, man,
from whose head thick, sluggish blood was
squirting through Jagged hole back OF the
right eur. while on the pavement was re,
yOlyer The body was picked up and carried
to the office OF Justice Bulger, where II was
laid on the floor and jury picked out OF the
immense crowd that thronged about the
door The Jury was Thomas Heafy, fore
man John Ball, Tom Salisbury, VIM, Sharp,
N. Bennett VIM. Wedebusch, Barney Nc
I.aughlin, C., Cline, w, Johnston, Frank
Coyle, John Baird and Dan Whitehead.
An examination was ut once commenced,
and William bailey put on the stand. lie
testified that Messrs List, Mason and Harris
and himself were sitting on the Opera House
steps; that two ladies' had just passed and had
reached Schnepfs corner when shot was
heard. One OF the ladies hid her face and the
other pointed with look of horror towards
the Pacific Mills, Mr.. Bailey ran rapidly and
was the first one there. He picked the body
up ind knew II to be thar Of James Ferguson,
until lately Belmont Mill nailor, A boy
was picking up u revolver,
Fritz Meyer said that u few moments after
II o'clock he had gone into Blumenberg's
and found Ferguson there drinking glass oil
wine, lie was leaning against tho ice box,
and seemed Il little under the influence Of
liquor, lie had said, meyers this Is my last
drink; at u o'clock I shall shoot my head
oil" Meyers tried to reason him out OF the
idea, 49,. D.
Dr. Baguqy said death resulted from IL
pistol wound, the ball entering the cavity Of
Inc brain behind and above the right ear,
VIM. Sharp, ono Of the jurors, testified to
having tNIk with the deceased about u
quarter OF II o'clock in front Of shCekeys
saloon. Ferguson was very anxious TO treat,
saying II was the last tinle,S by II O'Clock he
would be corpse
4, W. Harris testified to having heard that
Ferguson had the day before said he pro-
posed killing himself,
Henry Peblcr, young lad employed IN
SChepfS drug store, heard the shot and look!
ing 6p saw Ferguson fallingand with pistol
In Ills hand, lie was sitting on the doorstep
and fell to one side.
Tho Jury, after hearing the above evidence,
brought III u verdict that the deceased came
to his death by his own hands and voun'
tarlly
Tho pistol used was Victor No. ., with
flyUChambCrs, out Of one OF which the fatal
shot had been fired, Death must have beer
instant, as the back part OF tho head wa
partly blown oil, The sight was sckeninp
one, The hair being matted by clothed blood
and the features havinga pnChed and wal
expression, not ut all NATURAL
Jancs Ferguson was man about twenty
seven years old, and up to within about two
weeks worked W. II nliler IN the Belmont
mill Since that time he llas, for some cause
been In u very Respondent frame Of mind, aud
drinking to some extent a short time agC
his brother Robert died In the hospital, and
bysOme It is though that that had II tendency
to mike james respondent, rs lie was very
much attached to him. James was OF aQuiei
disposition and very much liked by those
who knew him. lie has brother living
William, who Is also mailer In the Belmont
mil, who took charge Of the remains.