Evening journal., 1891-05-29
LAST EDITION
HE WAS TIRED OF LIVING.
DANES w. King Commits Suicide with
Revolver

Revolver.
James w King, butcher, whose place
of business was at Eleventh and Tatnall
streets. committed suicide by shooting
himself through the heart at an early
hour this morning
King was we'll known in this city. At
one time he kept saloon at Market and
Water streets. Under President Cleye-
lands administration he was appointed
letter-csrrier by Postmaster Swiggett
After he lost his position as letter carrier
upon the retirement of Mr Cleveland he
entered into business for himself, opening
a butcher shop at Eleventh and Tatnall
streets BE lived. with his wife and
children, at No. 1913 West street. At
one time he drank to excess. and this
habit superinduced heart disease, from
which he has been terrible sufferer
at times be has been compelled to
walk the floor all night and this constant
suffering produced deep melancholy
Yesterday he told his friends that when
he died he wanted singing and praying
over his body, but did not give any in
tmstion that he was going'to take his
life.
Early this morning his wife awoke and
reaching over in the bed to arouse her
husband, who usually went down TO the
shop very early, she was surprised to
find that he was not in bed This did
not worry her, as she thought he had
gone out without waking her
She arose and prepared breakfast
Then she went out in the yard to feed
the chickens She was surprised to
find the hen-house door wide open. On
going down I he garden walk and looking
in : che cnI
her husband lying on his back cold in
death. revolver by his side, his wide
open eyes staring at the roof of the
small out house. She gave the alarm to
the neighbors and the coroner and police
department were notified
Officer Moffett was the first TO respond
He was accompanied by an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter. When they arrived
at the scene, a small crowd of neighh0rs
had already gathered, and gossip OF all
kinds was flying.
Entering the yard of the pretty little
home the officer and reporter were taken
to the hen house. Some friends had laid
blanket over the body Removing this
sad sight was presented King was
lying with his feet to the door, at full
length, prone on his back. His hands
lay at his side. Near the right
hand was a 80 calibre revolver,
of an inferior make. His left hand was
lying in nest, among some eggs Iii
the left breasu, just below the nipple
was a bullet hole The revolver wa:
placed so near when the fatal shot was
fred that the clothing aud flesh were
burned The eyes and mouth were oper
and an agonized expression was upon tn,
drawn and colorless face.
he was apparently about FIVE feet five
inches Ia height, had blue eyes, light
hair aud sandy moustache and beard.
His wife was Frustrated by the shock,
but the small children ran around looking
at the crowd as II wondering what wa
the matter
He leaves four small children as fol
lows: Smiley, aged 8 years; James w.
aged years; Mabel r aged years an,
and Myrtle !. a bRhe only three month
old
A J. Shrack, who keeps a grocer
store at Thirteenth and West streets
says he heard the pistol shot al 5 O'Clock
but did not pay any attention to it think
ing 1t was somebody shooting in the ad
jacent lots or In the park.
Kings wife's sister told the reporte
that there was not any domestic unhapp
ness. that be was a kind, indulgeI
husband and father, and that the onl
cause she could assign for his desperai
deed WAS the heart trouble from whic
he suffered
Coroner Sparks empaneled g Jury {
inquest this morning, and IL will procee
to the King home at 30 o'clock thi
evening, to hear testimony and view th
remains.