The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-02-18
,IpE or Ex-sHERlrr spAyGLER.

SUICIDE OF Ex-SHERiFF SPASGLER.
Ex-Sheriff John J. Spangler committed
suicide at eight o'clock Sunday morning by
shooting himself with a revolver. A thrill
I Of horror ran through our community when
the above announcement was made, many
people refusing TO believe it until they had
gone to the scene of the tragedy and found
that the statement was only too true. Mr..
Spangler with his family had been occupy
/ ing the residence of Mrs. Edmund Herman,
on Main street. since shortly after the lst OF
January his term of Office having expired on
the first Monday of that month. About ten
days prior 10 his death he was taken sud
denly and seriously i'll, and for a short time
his life was despaired of but he rallied and
although frequently complaining of feeling
very miserable. be was able to be up and
attend to business. Saturday night he
came home sick aud weary and passed a
wre,ched, sleepless night. In speaking to
his wife Of how miserable he felt he said
he wishs, be WAS dead. After getting
ND IN the Eioruing be wandered about the
stable. immediately in the rear of the house,
and returning; then going back u the sta
bic. he spoke 10 the hustier. and walking up
the steps 10 the hay NOW removed his hat,
hung it up carefully. and taking revolver
from his pocket, placed the muzzle within
an inch of his head, and literally blew his
brains out. The ball entered the head
through the upper part of the right ear, and
came out directly above the left ear. His
wife, alarmed at the report of the pistol
shot, ran to the stable and found him
stretched at full length on The hay. with the
blood and brains slowly oozing from the
CHASTITY wounds He was carried to the
house, where he lived for about an hour,
remaining unconscious to the last. The
great financial troubles which Mr.. Spangler
had experienced for the past few months
! undoubtedly unsettled bis mind, and while
labOring under mental alteration he CON-
mitted the rash deed. The weapon used was
Smith & Wesson, 81 calibre revolver of the
latest improved pattern, and was one of
those captured by him with the celebrated
Wechtenheiser gang of burglars His body
was inferred in the Lutheran Cemetery at
Friedens. Monday afternoon. Rev. WEIGH
preached the funeral sermon from the
text: When my heart is overwhelmed lead
me to the rock that is higher than l." The
funeral was very largely attended, the
members Of the Odd Fellows Lodge and of
the g A X. Post of this place, being pres
ent ir body. Mr.. Spangler aas member
Of both these organizations.
John J Spangler had his faults, it is true,
but be was the possessor of great, good
heart; was genial, generous, kind, good
natured and had "a hand open as day
to melt in charity" No man within
the limits of the county had a larger
circle of acqusintances, and he had
many friends who sincerely grieve and
mourn his death and the manner of his
diving. He was a man of the greatest per
sonal bravery, and possessed of indomitablei
pluck and endurance. For the past few
months he had borne up under q load that
was heavy enough to have overcome a
much stronger man. His burden finally be-
came more than he could bear harrassed,
sick and weary, his over-strained mind
gave way. and he committed the act of self
destruction, which in his rational moments
be probably never dreamed of. He leaves
a wife. noble woman, and young daugh
ter to mourn his death, and the deepest
sympathy of the entire community goes out
to them in this their hour of sore distress
and affection.