The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-05-16
GEORGE R. LENTZ DEAD.

Lentz had committed suicide by shooting
himself through the heart. Inquiry proved
the report to be only too true. The TRACE
dy occurred at Mr.. Lentz's handsome resi-
dence on Fifteenth street, back of Cedar
which he bought only within the last yeal
or two. Mr.. Lentz arose little earlier
yesterday morning than usual, in order, he
said to his wife, that he might not delay
her in preparing the children for school
He shaved himself up stairs and then went
down to the kitchen TO set fire. Almost
Immediately after he reached the kitchen
Mrs. Lentz, who was still up stairs, heard
what she believed at the time to be the
sammlng OF IA door; but, going right down
into the kitchen, she found her husband
lying on the floor dead, and pistol several
feet away from him.
The alarm was given and the terrible
news spread quickly over the city, calling
forth expressions of deep regret from every
heart, for Mr. LentI was known by every
botiy ami everybody WAS his friend, Conc
ner Fitzgerald WAS notified and an inquest
WAS held over the remains sbaS, 3 o'clock,
Net much Investigation was necessary in
the premises; the circumstances were all
very simple Sai clear, The instrument
asei hy deceased wAs Ss.cAlibre Colts re-
volyer. The wound made by the ball was
Shou, hSlf an inch below the left breast,
the hsll penetrating the hear; and lodging
somewhere in the back From the fact
tAA, tire cutter shirt WAS no, penetrated by
NE h&.l sni wxs nc, even scortched, it
was concluded ;aAt deceased drew back
this garment, p,seei the muzzle OF the
pistol clase 10 his body sai fred, and that
the explosion aaasr such circumstances
Knocked the pistol from his hand. The
Joys verde; wss suicide,
The causes which led Mr., Lentz to CON-
nj, the at are matters Of which very little
is Known ana can Only be conjectured. His
family relsnaas were uniformly OF the
hlppiesi. Els wife was devoted to him,
xnd be 10 her, aai his children, son grown
snd married sui daughter of fourteen
yesrs who is member OF the high school
graduating class, were sources OF pleasure
to him. About two months ago he resign
ed an important position in the -four mills
of Messrs. Charles Gallagher & Son, which
he had held for a number Of years, and
made the race for city clerk, in which as is
known, he was defeated. The fact that
Mr.. Gallagher had agreed to take him
back into the mills in case Of his defeat
precudes the idea that the result of the
election,or unfavorable pecuniary prospects,
had any influence in his determination to
destroy himself. The evening before he
was at the court house TO have paper
making disposition of his property &C
knowledged and recorded, and he request
ed County Clerk Humm, who was to ac-
knowledge the paper, not to reed IT. This
circumstance might be construed into an
indication of purpose to commit the deed
of the following morning. But, while there,
be was in his usual good spirits and spoke
of going on a hunt for squirrels up in the
county next Sunday. The same evening as
late as FIVE o'clock he wrote the following
in red ink on postal card to Chief Myers,
which was probably his last epistle and
which proves almost beyond doubt that
then he had no suicidal intent:
MAY 14th, 1883.
DEAR SIR-As you are so energetic in
cleaning up the city, would with other
neighbors, request if your duties will allow
to investigate the slaughter houses. They
emit loud, long and continued bad smells.
Your attention will oblige yours &c,
GEORGE r. LENTz.
Yesterday morning when he arose he was
also, apparently, in his usual good humor,
Mrs, Lentz noticing nothing peculiar about
him--al of which would seem to prove
that the resolution to destroy himself was
formed and executed on the spur of the
moment
Mr.. Lent was about fifty years of
age. He came here soon after the war,
from Evansville, Ohio, where he was born
and where he married sister of Mrs.
Charles Gallagher He took an active part
in the late war, as First Lieutenant of com
pany K, 10th Ohio volunteers. AT the
time of his death he was member in
good standing of the Knights OF Honor,
holding policy on his life for $4,000; he
also held two policies in the Equitable, one
for one thousand dollars payable immedi'
ately. the other for two thousand dollars,
payable in February next. His property
consists, we believe, only of the home, O
two story brick house, commodiously ar.
ranged, surrounded by roomy grounds and
pleasantly situated,