Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-12-10
A STARTLING SUICIDE.
ALDERMAN sAm.os MILLS HimsxLv.
the Kssn Act TbouGnt 90 Save Bsen su-
prriadocsd ~ Business TROUBLES the
DeAlh Of NOrIA Ad anat

! psriaooosd oy Businsss Trouoles the
Death OF conrad osst
The community was shocked this morn
ing TO learn that Joseph Samson, alder
man OF tho Sixth ward this city. had made
n determined attempt to commit suicide,
at his residence No. 10 East Lemon street,
by shooting himself In tho breast and side
with heavy calibre revolver. The shoot.
ing took place in . small room In the
second story Of the building, q few
minutes before nine o'clock. The report
Of the pistol attracted the attention OF
his family, and going to the little front
| room at the head OF the stairway Mr..
Samson was found welteripg In his blood.
He was placed in bed and physicians were
hurriedly sent for, ard Dis Welchanss
Compton aud Carpenter were soon at his
| bedside.
1t was found that one Of the bullets had
entered his breast near tho heart, and the
other had penetrated his side near the
liver. The wounds were pronounced by the
surgeons to be mortal. Mr.. Samson lin
gered until about half past 10 O'Clock,
| when he quietly passed away.
Financial difficulties and tho mental
anguish caused by them, were undoubtedly
the causes which led to the suicide. On
Monday last Alderman Samson and hts
wife made an assignment Of their property
| tOE tuo Dououb VI tutU CEsulNOTb. Up
to that time they were thought to
be in fairly good circumstances,
the alderman owning the house In
which be lived, besides carrying
on what appeared to be o prosperous
business in brush making, and getting Q
full share of patronage as alderman, to-
ge,her with small salaries as secretaries OF
two or three corporations. 1t has been
learned. however. that his property is
covered by mortgages aud Judgments,
amounting to s4,S00. and that Q large
number Of promissory notes which he had
given, from time to time were falling
due, and that he could neither pay them
nor have them renewed. He related these
facts to one of his creditors on Friday
last, saying he would either have to be
sold ont by the sheriff or make an assign
ment for the benefit Of creditors. His
friend advised him to try and tide over his
difficulties till business revived, but he
said he could not do 30. and even II he did
the crash would come in the spring at any
rate, and no therefore made the assign.
ment. The assets Of his estate. it is said !,
will realize %, 900 or 81, 900. The amount
Of liabilities apart from some 5000 in
mortgages and judgments is unknown.
Joseph Samson was son Of the late
| Bonum Samson. He was born and
always lived in this city. He learned the
brushmakiug trade with his father aud on
the death of the latter continued the busi.
ness in his own name. He was a man Of
good education, life long member OF the
Duke street NJ. Z church, and for many
years one Of its trustees. He was
q. lot holder, trustee aud secretary
|; OF the Lancaster cemetery company;
stockholder and secretary OF the
Farmers Northern market company a
member of lodge 45, of the Masonic
order (; q past officer and one OF the trus-
tees Of Lancaster Lodge, No. 81, l. o. of
.. F., and past officer Of Washington
Encampment, No. IL. tie was an active
member Of the Lancaster school board,
and was some years ago member Of city
councils. be was popular and welded
considerable influence in the Republican
, party. of which he was an active
member. He was for three years one OF
the county prison inspectors, and subse-
queutly aspired to be clerk of the boa,d,
but was defeated. Four years ago he WYE
! appointed alderman of the Sixth ward In
plsco Of Joshua w. Jack, deceased, aud in
| the following year was elected to the Same
position for full term OF five years. He
was attentive to business and took o lead
Ing position as police magistrate.
Alderman Samson at the time of his
death was about 60 years Of age. His
l
wife and five sons and two daughters
survive him.
Coroner Shiffer was notified of the
death and he empsnneled as a jury John
X. Stoner, Il, Nj. Morrow, G. @. Carpenter
Thos. r. MoElligott, q. A. Cast and s.
III. Sener. The testimony beard brought
out the facts noted above. The verdict of
the jury was that he came to his death from
pistol shot wounds inflicted by his own
hands, while in an insane state of mind,
and 1t appeared that he was in depressed
state Of mind for several days caused BY
financial difficulties.
| DEATH or CONRAD CAST.
Conrad CAST, ono OF Lanoastsr's best
known citizsDs, died at his residence at
Prince and James .stIeet this morning,
shortly after O'Clock. He had been iii
for several weeks with typhoid pneumo.
MIA. Deceased was born in Prussia and
came to this country with his parents and
other members of the family in November,
1919. They landed in Baltimore and came
BY wagon tn this oity where the family
located permanently. Conrad learned the
trade Of potter with his brother Henry,
who was his senior, and worked with him
for some time. Many years ago he started
IN business on James street, where he has
been located ever since. For some years
past his son Amos G. has been
la partner in the business. Mr..
Cast was member of the board of
poor directors of the county for several
terms. He was reelected in November
and would have taken his office in Jan.
uary 1st. He has represented the Ninth
ward in councils at different terms. He
was member of the board of directors
and prominent stookholder of the North.
ern market company. aud was one OF the
trustees of the Children's Home, appointed
by the court. He was member of lodge
43 F. s. A. NJ, Lancaster Lodge No. 87I.
0. o. F., and Washington Enoampmsnt.
His second wife survives him, besides
three grown children who are Amos G.
Cast, Mrs. Dan'i Hartman and Mrs. Jacob
Miley. Mr.. Cast was an honest, upright
citizen who enjoyed the respect of his
fellow citizens. The funeral takes place
Saturday afternoon at o'clock.
-
On Rollers.
Last evening there was good sized
audience at the M;ennerohor rink. A one
mile race took place between Harry Strine
and Mrs Beokie Miller and Rudy Gates aud
Aiaa Kah ha firot