The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1883-01-06
A DARK MYSTERY !
MURDER OR SUICIDE OF GEORGE
P. McCONKEY.
A Horror-strIcken Community
A "Neyvs'' Reporter Visits the Scene
of the sad Tragedy.

toutRenCe Oh the mysterious utdLn OF
George +. McConkey, our retiring
County Treasurer, Tuesday, II feeling
of q ief and horror settled upon the
minds OF people. All day long
groups eongregated ON the streets To
discuss the sad tragedy, With scarcely
any two agreeing as 10 whether the
deed was murder or suicide. Toward
evening a NEWS reporter, IN company
with Commissioner f.. j. Cowley, got
ready to repair to the scene OF tue
tragedy, and if possible learn all the
facts connected with the unfortunate
affair.
SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY.
We reached Hamilton about TWO
o'clock "Wednesday afternoon and
found the town covered in a deep
gloom OF sorrow. Men greeted u in
mufled tones, and the fountains of
their hearts welled up with emotions
OF grief they could not control. Never
in our life have we witnessed such
general and profound regret for the
death OF a neighbor rs that which
pervaded the entire community Of
Hamilton over this shocking affair.
We visited the T~reasurer's Office,
where the appalling deed was cotn-
mitted, and had explained to u the
position in which the body was found
and the circumstances Immediately
preceding that event.
II was New Years night, and the
residents OF Hamilton we're about 10
celebrate The event with "A ball at
Rnfa.as.-. mn saFa# : aHaHH4L
Mr.. anu Mrs. McCoukey got ready 70
attend the evenings entertainment.
As was his usual custom, the lond
father took up his two interesting 1T
tie cIldren-Millie and Georgie-nnd
kissed them good night, aud he
also did his mother in Law Mrs, Cor
don. The husband and wife then
went to the hall and danced till about
half past ten, when MIR. MeGoukey
excused himself by telling his vile
that he had some writing 10 do At his
office, and would return about I
O'Clock and take her 10 supper. But
alas! this was the last eve seen Of
poor George alive. The festivities
went on, and the supper hour arrived,
but George did not come. His vile
became anxious aud refused TO "a 10
supper without him. One o'clock
came, and the anxious wife could no
longer restrain her fears.
SEARCH MUST DE MADE.
Calling several friends, Mrs. Ne.
'conkey asked them to look for her
husband. A messenger was SEM 10
he'Cour;-house, but he was not there.
Others went round to the office, but
as there WAS no light IL was conclud-
ed he could no. be there either.
These failures to find her husband
were reported to Mrs. McConkey,
who now became thoroughly alarmed
and determined to find him. Size
asked Mr.. Thomas Mckenney TO az
company her to Mathewson Bros
store. lie did so. The iron shutters
on the door were closed, but the
shutters on the Treasurer's Office
were open, though the glass door was
fastened with a spring lock. They
raped, but received no y
Mrs. McConkey then went 10 Jer-
ome Mathewson's residence, adjoIn-
ing the office, woke him up and got
the store key.
FINDING THE BODY.
An entrance was effected, Mr.. Me-
kenney leading the way and Mrs.
McConkey following. Inside all was
dark. A candle Was lighted and The
search began. Passing out OF the
store into Wells, Fargo's office and
behind the counter, Mckenney saw
The PROSTATE DO ~ Of the missing
man, lying between the two safes,
An said "Here is George; he is
alseep." "Oh! no." said the dis
tracted wife, George is not asleep;
something terrible has Mapped" or
words to that effect. Tho almost fran
tic wife then fell on the ~lifeless body
oil her husband, and in plying tones
called for brandy TO administer, him
thinking perhaps that he had fallen
In fit. Mokenney ran his hand over
the face Of the PROSTATE man, and IL
was cold as death. The truth then
nashed across his mind, and IA hasty
examination revealed a bullet hole in
MS vest just over the heat. This
told the awful story 10 the afflicted
Vile, whose cries and means became
heartrending. There was no alarm
given. The distracted. wife was re-
moved to her home and Sheriff Raum
sent for. The dead body OF George
4. McConkey was placed on tho coun-
ber ana preparations mnfe for an in