The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-04

] SUICIDE or 4 s-DMkhc ltlN l1O1 49,
/ following particulars of the suicide of Ross
/ W. Lichty. eldest son of Mr. George c. Lich-
~. one Of the most highly respected farmers
Of Somerset township are taken from the
Johnstown Daily Tribune of September 2Sth ::
shortly after o'clock this morning the
report Of pistol shot was heard on Railroad
street. near Clinton. Those who heard the
report paid but little attention to it, no one
/ significance attaching to it. Half an hour
l later Mr.. William Plack. timer. whose
4 place Of business is in the brick building on
| the corner of Railroad and Clinton streets
entered the grocery store Of Mr.. r. W. Lich-
ty. in the old frame building, just in the
rear Of the brick. on Railroad street. to make
purchase. He did not observe Mr. Lichty,
/ but he heard a peculiar noise behind the
counter which attracted his attention.
Bounding over the counter he beheld spec
tacle which caused his blood to run cold
{ Sitting on a small tub or key. with his head
resting on a box standing on end, pistol in
/ his right hand with the muzzle pointing
toward his head, and not more than two
inches from his temple, blood squirting from
a ghastly wound just over the left eyez-in
that frightful plight he saw the proprietor
Of the store, Ross W. Lichty Mr.. Plack
hastened 10 the feedstore Of Mr.. Gustav Bos-
teri, next door. notified him of what he had
seen. and the two gentlemen returned to the
scene Of what had evidently been terrible
tragedy.
Esquire Rutledge happened along Just at
this moment, and he was also informed of
the affair 1t was found that the young
man was still living. aud Mr. Rutleise at
once started for physician. DIR. W. B.
Lowman promptly responded. In the
meantime. however. Esquire Cox arrived at
the store. and he directed tii,>e presen; to
take the pistol from Mr.. Eichty's band and
remove him from behind the counter. This
was accordingly done. and the victim of the
pistols deadly messenger was placed on a
long table in the storeroom. An examina-
fact that no human agency would be of any
avail-that the wound was fatal one-the
bulle, had passed in an almost direct line
from the right TO the left temple, clear
through the head. and the revolver had been
held with the muzzle 50 close 20 the :ace
that the powder had singed the hair ar/
burned large blisters in the immediate vicin-
ity Of the V wound.
From the wounds on either side Of the
victims head the blood ran freely. He did !
not seem 70 suffer. The eyes were open, and 4
there was a fixed. dead stare in them. He
brea,hed heavily, the lips by times twitched 4
convulsively. but he did not speak. and /
when they picked him up to remove him 1
from the store he made no sign "a Of con- {
sciousness 70 what was transpiring aboSt
him. He had bearded with Mr. D. Z. keyN
ser. in the same building with his store, and 4
cot having been placed in the front room
of that gentleman's residence he wss placed .
upon II.
Mr.. Lchty fingered along. Eitkout utter
ing a word or recognizing any one at his
bedside. until shout noon. when he breathed 4
MS l.i-l. Itttd-rA " a, 1'FA1 tnN my
wears of age. He came here, it Is said, about
six months ago. and purchased the stock
and fixtures Of the store on Railroad street
which he conducted until his death. As ;
stated above he boarded with Mr.. keyser,
snd tina; gentleman remarked that he could 1
not explain the terrible affair. II might De
possible that Mr. Lichiy had some love
troubles there was some talk that be was
10 be married in short time. but he had
said nothing about il at his boarding house.
some two OF three weeks ago he paid a visit
10 his home in Somerset county. Prior to
that time he was cheerful and seemed to !,
take an interest in his business. Since his
return. however. he had been gloomy and
melancholy.
Last night he said he was in trouble; that
everything seemed to be against him A cat
jumped upon his shoulder and then upon
the glass in a show case, shattering il into
fragments This incident worried him great
liz. and he spoke of his misfor;unes several
times during the evening This morning,
sfte, breakfast. he said he hated TO go to
the store and his manner indicated that he
was considerably agitated. Mr.. Bostert says
he was in Lichty's store between 5 and
O'Clock, and heappeared TO be as cheerful as