The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-19
PROVO.
= SUICIDED THROUGH PAIN.
A Drug Clerk Blows his Brains out-Four
Thousand Dollars for Crushed Finger

About o'clock yesterday afternoon F.
P. Seclor saicided by firing a bullet
through his brain He is a druggist who
has for about one year been in the employ
of r. S. Hines, and came to our city from
Salt Lake, but is reported to be formerly
from Florida The cause Of the suicide is
said to be severe suffering. For several
weeks past he has suffered from a gather
ing npon the jaw with pains similar to that
of neuralgia. He told Mr.. Hines few
days ago that he could not endure another
attack like the one he mad passed through.
The knowledge of the suicide drove his
wife and two children. which constitutes
his family, almost insane. He died almost
instantly after the pistol was discharged.
From the evidence adduced at the coro-
ner's inquest held shortly after the sad oc-
currence the following facts were given
The deceased had been suffering from a
severe attack OF neuralgia, which had in
the past almost driven him crazy. Mrs.
Seclor had left him for few minutes to go
in another room, when she was startled by
hearing a shot, and on rushing into the
room found her husband gasping his last
and a revolver lying on the floor near the
bed. She frantically called in some neigh
bors, who soon found he was beyond
earthly aid. The instrument OF death was
a 44-calibre Smith s. Wesson revolver
The shot had evidently been fired from the
right hand, entering the left temple and
ranging down. The jury, consisting Of
Messrs, c. L. Underhill, j. E. Cheever and
H. II. Henderson,, brought in verdict in
accordance with the above facts.
The deceased was about 55 years
old and his two boys are respec-
lively nine and twelve years of age.
He also has a married daughter east.
Deceased was most efficient man in his
position as prescription clerk, sober and
reliable at all times, and as Mr.. Hines says.
had so endeared himself to all with whom
he had business that Mr. Hines felt as
badly as if he had lost his own father. He
served for over seven years as physician
ana three years in the confederate army as
surgeon. His wife is utterly Frustrated
with grief, he having been kind and in
dulgent husband and father.
1t is thought by his wife that he had
risen from mis- bed and walked over to a
bureau, in which she had kept locked the
revolver, and only left it open by mistake,
evidently thinking that he might do some
thing rash.
HEAVY DAMAGES.
In the First district court the case of
William j. Manhood VS.. Pleasant Valley
| Coal company was taken up for trial. Suit
is brought against the company for $4,000
for personal Injuries sustained by the
! plaintiff occasioned by defective brake on
| one of its cars. 1t appears that while the
car was in motion the plaintiff, whose duty
it was TO stop the cars, attempted to put on
| the brake, but on account OF it being de-
fective used blocks which were provided
by the company for that purpose, and in
doing so his little finger was crushed and
had to be amputated. The testimony of the
| plainti Mr.. Mahood, shows the cars
which were used TO have been in danger
Gus condition and the one which caused the
injury was devoid of brake. Sufficient
corroborative testimony was given of these
facts and the plaintiff rested.
| The defense set up that the car which
caused the injury was q Union Pacific cal
and that the Union Pacific company had no
interest in the Pleasant Valley Coal com
| pany. Also that 1t was u custom to use ties
to block the coal cars on the side track, and
| that it was perfectly safe process, pro-
vided the man understood his business.
The yard master of the coal company
stated that the cars had to be blocked
within almost an inch of a required spot
and this could only be done with pieces OF
wood, brakes not acting quick enough
! Other witnesses testified that the brake Oh
| the car which crushed the hand of the
| plaintiff was in good order,
The jury brought in verdict in favor oil
Mahood for 81 200. T<'
A SOCIETY BALL.
The ball given by the ladies of the Epis
copal church in the Excelsior hall was
high society affair. Mrs. @. d. Moore, Mrs
G. w. Shores, Mrs. Beck, Mrs. E. B. Jone.
and Miss Eta Swarthout were prime