Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-18
THE INQUEST.
John +. Lock Takes His Life While in
a Fit of MelancholY.

Fit of Melancholy.
Coroner Clark held and inquest last
evening over the remains of John F. Lock,
the young man who shot himself in the
Arcade building Monday morning.
A. H. Jeans testified that he was second
cousin of the deceased, and had been in
timately acquainted with him during his
life. Deceased was born in North Patter-
ton, England, and at the time of his death
was % years and 3 months of age. Called
to see Lock on Sunday night. Found him
lying down feeling badly and considerably
discouraged. He got up and the two spent
very pleasant evening conversing to-
gether. Left him about II o'clock and at
that time Lock seemed to be in the best
of spirits and thanked witness for calling.
Miss Koran, proprietress of the
lodging house where deceased sui
cided, testified to his being a
moral and exemplary young man, very
industrious, and considerably worried over
the fact that he had dumb ague or inter-
mittent fever which prevented him from
working at his trade in the railroad shops
He had roomed there for one year. He
came home last Thursday sick, and did
not work either Friday or Saturday. Mon
day morning he dressed himself, came
down stairs and rang the bell. When she
answered he stated that he had passed a
sleepleSs night, his fever was getting the
| best of him, aud said he was very much
discouraged. He remarked: ' have some
money coming to me from the shops, and
have some on deposit at the Sacramento
Bank" Witness chided him for being
downhearted. Al his request she prepared
| him some toast and tea. He drank
the tea and then said he would go over
to the shop. and tell Mr.. Turner that he was
unable to work: she tried to have him
send some one but he insisted on going In
about half an hour he returned. When he
assembled to thei top of the first stairway,
| she saw he was weak and weary, and told
him to go into the parlor and lie down on
the sofa, as it was much cooler than his
room and he would not be disturbed. He
commenced going up the next fight of
stairs, saying: " | must go to my room
first" She went to the back part of the
house to attend to some duties, and a few
moments later heard what she thought was
the report of toy pistol. She called the
attention of the girl to the shot, and they
were of the opinion it was in the Orleans
| building. A few m Oments later they heard
the second shot. They listened moment
to hear the running of footsteps or some
commotion on the street, or in the next
| building, and hearing none, thought no
more of it. About half an hour later she
took lady up stairs to show her a room.
In passing his room she pushed the door
open. intending to try and persuade him to
go down to the parlor. He had sat
down on the side of the bed and had fallen
over backwards. His left hand was over
his heart and his right lying at his side
She thought he had overexerted himself
and tainted, and when he did not answer
she stepped to the bed and started to raise
his head when she discovered the pistol.
She then remembered hearing the shots
and ran for help. At his feet was his open
valise, containing number of cartridges,
letters, pictures, ETC., and from which
he had evidently taken the pistol.
She thought he had taken so much quiz
nine that his head was full of it, and he
was not in his right mind at the time of
the commission of the rash act.
The jury brought in a verdict in accord
ance with the above facts, saying that he
died from the effects of pistol-shot wounds
inflicted with his own hands, csused by de-
preston of spirits on account of illness.
The funeral will take place at 3 P. NJ. to-
day from the undertaking rooms of J. F.
Clark.