Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-09
LOVE STRONGER THAN LIFE.
Young Sidney Shire Shot Himself Becaus
His Father Opposed His Choice.

nis Hatner cpposeu MS NnOtce.
Young Sidney Shire. son of Jacob Shire, the
wealthy shirt manufacturer Of Great Jones
street, New York. who lives at 100 East 6lst
street, shot himself Tuesday night in the house
of his sweetheart. Miss Minnie Griffin. 337 West
seth street, as briefly told in the dispatches to
yesterdays STAR. His father had forbidden
him to see her. Miss Griffin occupies a fat
with her mother, Mrs. Anna E. Griffin. 1t is
said that Shire had been engaged to her for some
time. Shire was also known as Simeon Shire.
The son became acquainted with Miss Griffin six
or seven months ago and there has been trouble
for him ever since Mrs Minnie is blonde,
about Twenty-Five or twenty-three years old
Young Simeon at least three years her
Junior, being not yet twenty, but his infatu-
alton for her took no account of years. He
had not known her a week before he was her
slave 1t was not long before his changed
habits bred trouble in the Shire household.
Simeons stick in the hall rack took to staying
out nights too long and too often to suit the
head of the house. Rebukes and reproaches
were followed at last by the fiat ultimatum
from the elder Shire that his son must choose
between his house and that of the woman he
worshiped. In effect he had already chosen,
as was shown by his name on the door of the
fiat at 337 West 59th street, into which the
Griffins had moved week ago. 1t was there.
over Mrs. Griffn's. until an hour after he had
the Griffin name to stand alone.
Whether or not young Shire was the head Of
the new household. as the position of his name
would seem to indicate, he spent most of his
free time there after the paternal fat had gone
forth. but it was evident that the bonds he
could not break CALLED him. He spoke of
Gaping his dilemma by death and fourished
pistol. Miss Griffin asked him to give it to her.
what is the use?' he said, there are plenty
more where that came FROM and he left it.
u 4. L. Il L
revolver of thirty-two caliber. Tuesday night
young Shire came to the house at o'clock. He
told Miss Minnie of the fresh trouble at home
and of his fathers fiat.
She advised him to submit, so she says. She
did not want to come between him and his
mother, whose favorite child he was. He said
that he would never give her up and hung
about her until near midnight, moody and de-
jected. Shortly before IL clock he got up and
said that he was going. The girl was lying on
lounge. He kissed her goodbye and stepped
into little room off the parlor. where there
was bureau with glass.
1T was quiet for many minutes in there, and
the girl. wondering what had become of him,
called out:
What are you doing there?"
Nothing" he said, but turning her head,
she caught glimpse of him scribbing on the
bureau A moment later a shot fell behind the
half-closed door, and the startled girl ran in
She found young Shire lying on the floor, face
downward.
The room was full of hot powder smoke
No blood was in sight
'.Sid, she said. thinking that he was trying
to brighten her, ''Sid, come, stop fooling." Sid
was his pet name.
He didn't answer and she turned his face
toward her. There was great ugly hole in
the right temple, from which the blood trickled
over his cheek. The girls screams brought
help and physicians were sent for One came
from across the street. but before he reached
the house the young man was dead.
The doctor on his way back told police
man and he went to the house to take charge.
On the bureau were two notes addressed by
young Shire to his family and evidently written
just before he shot himself.
In the small hours of the morning when the
Griffins, after some hesitation. had given the
address at which his friends we're to be found.
his ia Their and brother came to the fiat upon
which they had frowned and rang the bell
The father did not cross its threshold. He
stayed out upon the stoop while the went
in. looked upon the dead brother. and took
away the letters. The Shires refused to be
questioned
Miss Griffin said: II loved him as I love no
other man. and l know that he thought every
thing of me.
Il may have been severe with him when 1
told him to go back to his work and his family,
but l didn't think it right that should
stand between him and his family.
Il didn't think it would be possible for him
to commit such an act He was always SO gen.
tie and kind-hearted.''
All that Mr.. Shire will say in regard to the
death OF his son is that there was no reason why
he should kill himself.
He denies the story that he threatened to
turn him out of the house if he did not give
up the girl
He has always been a very obedient boy
said the father. up to short time ago, and he
has always lived at home.''