Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-31
SUICIDES.
SELT DESTRUCTION WHILE MELAN
CHOLY.

An Aged Lady Hangs Hersen With
Handkerchief.
Mrs. Barbara Hacker, a widow, aget
56 years, residing with her son-in.iaw
Joseph Weaver, at 706 South Queer
street, committed suicide this morning by
hanging herself. For some time pas
Mrs. Hacker has been melancholy ant
was not believed to be in her right mind
This morning she arose as usual, hut re
fused to eat any breakfast. About
o'clock she went up stairs to her room
Shortly afterwards Mrs. Weaver had occa
sion to 20 up stairs and she tried the doc
of her mother room, which she fourd t,
be locked on the inside. She became
alarmed and called her husband
who was asleep in another room
having worked last night at Peacock
furnace where he is employed. They forces
open the door and found Mrs. Hacker
hanging to bed post dead. She had tied
a red handkerchief around her neck and tt
the bed, and when found she was in q
kneeli position. She was quickly GU
down by Mr. Weaver and Henry Dormen
who was working a few doors. away, ant
Coroner Shiffer and Henry Wolf under
taker were notified.
Mrs. Hacker was in the 51th year Of her
age. She was the wife of John Hacker
who has been dead for about seven years
since which time she has been living with
her children. For years she has peddled
goods through the county and she wa
well known. She was subject to severe
attacks of asthma and it was probably that
which made her despondent. There wa!
no other cause for the rash act. Mrs
=. Hacker leaves but two children, Mrs.
Weaver and George Hacker. The funeral
will take place on Sunday.
Coroner Shiffer empanelled a jury al
noon and held an inquest on the remains
of the deceased, the jury rendering yer
dict i'll accordance with the facts as given
above.
SAMUEL FER:sY'S TRAGIC DEATH.
He Opens Ills Veins with PenknIfe.
Many of the older residents of the lower
end, especially of Bart, Eden and Cole.
rain townships remember Samuel Ferry,
formerly of the Dry Wells, Eden town.
ship. who went west about the beginning
of the war. He was a step-son of the late
Samuel Sharp, a ha!f-brother Of Isaac
Sharp, who went from this county to
Kansas and attained some prominence
there, and brother of James Ferry, now
of ColeraiE. Samuel Ferry was between
so and GO years, genial intelligent man
Of fine presence and powerful physique.
Word received from Steubenville, Ohio,
where he has lately been working as a
machinist, tells that the other day he
committed suicide in fit Of melancholy
by opening his veins with a penknife. 1t
is notable that deceased had a brother
killed by cannon ball in the Mexican
war, and sister perished in the burning
of 4 steamboat on her bridal tour.
Suicide of Lebanon County Farmer.
Michael Shenk, 4 wealthy farmer, resid.
ing near Schaclferstown, Lebanon county,
committed suicide with the reins of a
bride in his horse stable. He complained
of feeling i'll, and about three o'clock he
went away, saying he would return soon,
but rot returning search was made for
him, when he was found dead. He had
the day previous purchased some arsenic,
and it. is supposed he first took dose of
it. There is no cause assigned for the rash
act lie was in no way embarrassed. De-
ceased was about sixty years Of age and
leaves wife and children.