Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-18
BY THE BULLET ROUTE 5!
A Short, Sharp Crack That Winds Up
Another Career.
Michael AxelsOn Takes His Life BY His
own Hand.
The Rash Act Ascribed to Dependency,
Infidelity and Spiritualism.

Michael Axelson, a tailor, committed
suicide yesterday morning at half past
O'Clock. He was 81 years of age, and
since emigrating to Salt Lake City, four
teen years ago, he had for the entire
time made his home with Mr.. Strom-
berg.
From Mrs. Betsy Stromberg, at whose
home the rash act was perpetrated, a
DEMOCRAT reporter learned the known
| facts of the case and
THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE DEED.
Mr.. Axelson is described as having
been very methodical, strictly honest,
but rather misery sort of a man. He
was employed by the establishment of
Hedberg & Fernstrom, merchant tailors,
and for the past four months had COM
planned at times, of sickness from the
effects of rheumatism. His conduct had
been strange Of late, and on two different
occasions, once last March, he made at
tempts to take his life, but was pre-
vented from so doing by some restraining
hand. His condition OF body affected his
mind to some considerable extent, and
he became respondent, frequently
EXPRESSING STRONG DESIRES TO DIE,
Which were carried out Yesterday by his
own hand.
When the report of the fatal shot was
heard the people of the house, and for a
block away, rushed to the scene to learn
the cause of alarm. The door of AXel-
sons small room up stairs was found
locked, but Master Stromberg, a boy
trollable curiosity and courage than was
possessed by the older ones present,
climbed up by the side of the house,
raised the window, and there saw the
dying man
STRUGGLING ON THE RED.
He hurried down, the door was burst
open, and AXelson was found gasping in
death with the revolver clasped tightly in.
his hand, his finger still pressing the
trigger with a determined grip. DR..
Borroughs was summoned, as was also
DR.. Anderson, but neither being at home
it was discovered to be too late to give
H.,
IL O'Clock am. he expired, without ever
speaking a word or leaving a written line
in explanation of his suicide. The bull
let entered his scalp about one inch back
of the middle of the right ear, it then
took a downward course for three -fourths
of an inch, where it entered the head,
passed through and lodged in the left
cheek bone. The revolver must have
been placed close against the head, as
THE SKULL WAS COMPLETELY CRUSHED
With the terrific shot, and what is singu-
arly strange is that the hair was not
1oticeably singed.
The deceased was of medium build. |
sandy hair and beard, slightly sprinkled |
With gray. Through his industrious
lahits and scrupulously careful living he
lad accumulated considerable property.
Besides $1,000 in lions Savings Bank,
e owned a part interest with Mr.. Peter
en- in mine in Big Cottonwood. He
Tore fine gold watch and chain, and
his property, he once informed friend,
e wanted divided among two brothers.
eslding in Sweden, and a sister sup
osed to be in Wisconsin, but formerly
wing at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The remains were taken in charge by ;
ity Sexton Taylor, from whose. under
king establishment the funeral is an
to take place this afternoon. Mr..
Xelson belonged to no church, but
Ither tended to infdelity, with tinctur- ;
g OF Splrltualism controlling his views
times