The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-05-28
Shocking Suicide
Joe Worley Finds Life Too
Hard to Bear.
No Cause Assigned for the
Rash Deed.

The most startling and unaccountable
of suicides took place last evening at
about II o'clock in this city. Joseph Q.
Morley evidently at that time sent ball
from 44-calibre Winchester revolver
through his heart. His body, cold in the
clasp of death, was found early this
morning by J. II. Taylor lying at the
north gate of the masonic cemetery.
Joe was generally of a bright, cheerful
disposition and not at all given to melan-
choly. For about year he has been a
resident of this city, practicing his pro-
fession as civil engineer. Before set
Ting here he was employed by the
Northern Pacific railroad company,
and prior to that was an old st. Paul
boy. He was about % years of
age and supposed to be unmarried,
although rumor-always uncertain and
seldom truthful-has whispered that he
was welded.
For several months past he has room
ed at the residence of John Worth, and
yesterday morning he arose earlier than
was his custom, went to Worth's saloon
for his fishing tackle and started out for
the day; he also took Worth's fishing
pants and basket with Worth's revolver
From that time till dark little is known
of Worley's movements. About dark he
returned and went to his room at Worths.
Here he changed his garments, washed
himself, and went through his trunk, ev-
identity with great care. His clothing
and collection of pictures were neatly ar
ranged and all his letters taken from the
room.
Late III the evening he took supper at
the Park restaurant. From this point
again the clue is lost till little after IL
o'clock, when Mrs. Cy Mounts heard the
report of a revolver in the direction of
the cemetery.
1t is said the act of taking ones own
life requires certain anlednt of true
courage; if this be true Joe certainly
must have had greater troubles to bear
than any of his friends dreamed Of His
method was deliberate and cool. From
the facts known it is almost certain that
the thought of fleeing from the ills We
bear" was present in his mind long be-
fore it was put in action. The night was
dark and cool and the way to the ceme-
terry was not one that would be chosen
for stroll. 1t is rumored that he made
call at about this time in the evening
but this report is without truth. He
walked to the north gate of the ceme-
terry, sat down and leaned against the
fence. Here he smoked two or three
cigarettes while he sorted over his let
tiers and deliberately tore up such as he
did not care to have seen by curious
eyes, These fragments made quite lit
tie mound of paper by his side. What
ever Joe's tronble was he evidently sat
and thought it over till its overwhelming
weight spread its dark pail over his men
tai world, giving the future the dark cast
of life without hope. Then with his half
consumed cigarette still between his lips
! he grasped and cooked the revolver. A
lingering death was to be avoided, there
fore with the weapon in his left hand he
placed its muzzle inside his coat on the
vest just over his heart. Holding the
muzzle Of the weapon in it's place with
his right hand he pulled the trigger.
The weapon dropped from his pulseless
hands as the ball cleft human heart in
twain; the body fell forward and to the
right, while Joe's soul went forth to meet
the uncertainties of the unknown.
Coroner Didawick impanneled a jury
consisting of DIR. Osborn. Cy Mounts, Joe
Lindley, A. d. Mcpherson, Z. Sperling,
and others. After hearing the testi-
mony of Thurston Robinson, John
Worth, and ]. H. Taylor the jury found
a verdict stating that we the jury find
that Joseph o. Worley came to his death
by pistol-wound inflicted by himself,
May 22nd, A. D. 1854"
One letter from Belkuap on business
matters and two from ladies in St. Paul
were found in his pockets. The st. Paul
letters were written by Jennie, 274
Pleasant avenue" and ''Tillie I. Melchior,
532 Canada street.
Thus Joseph o. Worley rings down the
curtain on his drama of life. He has
solved the great problem.