Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-17
A Man Shoots Himself Through the
Brain and then Crosses His
Hands on His Breast,
A Committee OF Citizens Arrive at the
Conclusion that John n. Symp.
son Killed Himself.
Wife aud rive children Loft to Mourn
Tor the Unfortunate Man whose
Mind Was Going,
special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
SUICIDE oF MERCHANT.
SAVANNAH, |, T., Dec. lG.-~Oycr the
river Mr.. Jt IN H. SIMPSON makes the
voyage at his own time. Our little town
was startled from It's usual quiet this
morning by the report that John T.,
SIMPSON a prominent merchant and ono
OF our best citizens, was found dead Ia
ms bed at his place 0f business with a
bullet through his brain Your cOrrc-
spondcnt Immediately repaired 20 the
spot aud found It but too true. The evil
dcuco of all the circumstances plainly
pointed 20 suicide lie was found IN bed
ying ON his back as compoSodly as II IN a
sleep, with his hands on his breast and
hls lower limbs Strengthened ont, natur-
ally indicating he had died without n
struggle. IN his right hand was stll the
fatal implement of death, short forty
i've callher revolver of the
Bulldog pattern, with one chamber
sllll loaded and the hammer Stlll resting
on The empty shell, which had sent the
messenger cl death. The pistol IN one
belonging In the store aud usually kept
IN the back room. The ball had entered
just at the top of tho right ear, passed
clear through the brain, coming out nc
the upper portion Of the hit side OF the
head, striking round OF the bcdstoad
and dropping 60 the ilaor The neck and
breast were bathod In blood, which had
poured In large quantities from the
mouth and nose. The position oi the
wound and direction of the ban showed
that II had been fired from below up
wards, from just about where he could
hold his hand with che pistol lying IN
this position. 10 was evident he had
undressgd in the front room by the
stove, whore his clothing WAS
.lcit on some chairs, aud Lee retired
without amy Intention of making
that hls lasl nights sleep on earth A
careful search revealed no Hue or word 10
Indicate there had been any prcmrdita-
ton Mr.. SIMPSON removed some
months ago from Stringtawn, forty miles
south OF here, whore he has been IN bust
ness for the past ten or twelve years, TO
this place, Euying out the business and
residence OF Mr.. Goodc, and has siacc
been engaged IN general merchandising
He was man Of most exemplary habits.
social and generous, and had endearud
himself 20 al whose fortune 10 was to
know him. His circumstances and sur.
roundiugs were most pleasant aud pros.
porous and his domestic relations were
happy Tho community Is alta total loss
10 account for this rash act Il was his
custom 10 sleep at his residence, which Is
only Il few hundred yards from
his place Of business hut
last night his clerk, Mr. Goodo, who
usually slept In the store, was called
away, and MIR. SIMPSON, not Wishing TO
leave the store unprotected, occupied his
bed in the back room. Not coming TO
breakfast, his wife sent one Of his little
children to call him OUT, who found the
store still closed Mr.. Rlmer, whose store
is Just opposite, went over 80 assist the
children IN awakening the father, but got.
ting 10 reply became alarmed, and, call
ing n friend or two, they forced up the
window OF the bedroom, which was Rc.
curely fastened, only 10 ind the one whose
vile was awaiting his coming cold 10
death. II Is asCortancd that Mr. Symp.
son WIS complaining Of feeling N ytstcr.
day, aud nj about O'Clock In the evening
he remarked 30 Messrs, Cubcrtson aud
Charlegworth who were In bis store,
and who were probably the last persons
who waw him alive, that be had Il htraupe
buZzing IN HIS head, that his mind was
disturbing him, Ms he could not remember
anything Tor the past few days, aud 4 ISL
probable these symptoms were the pro
cumOrs Of that condition which resulted
80 fatally last night. No one heard The
shot, and Il Is probable, from appear
anccs, that the act was committed rs
early as ~ O'Clock In the night. Mr.
SIMPSON leaves awiia and several small
Mrs. SIMPSON, who 81 al
daughter OF Mr. Garner OF Stringi0wn, n
well nigh distracted by this terrible az
Election. As we have no arrangements for
coroner's proceedings IN cnses IKE this, a
number Of citizens resolved themselves
into committee Of Investigation,
and, after examining oil The
make the following
reports "Wc the Undersigned, citizens
OF the town Of Savannah, l. r., having
made full examination concerning Tia
death OF John Il. SIMPSON, would state
that, 10 the best Of our knowledge aud
belief, he came 70 hi- death by an act Of
bis own hand y. Poe Harris, N. d., s !
A, Conner, NJ D., John Rpnnie, y v. (
Sloan, NJ II McCaliistcr, ". a. Kerry
w. T.. Culbertson, Morg Charrcsw0rtl, /
] s. Brisco, j. Barrett, r. ANGEL, W. u. !
Coleman.
Tlis News at Atoka.