Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-01-05
FEARFUL CASUALTY.
Edwin Solomon Fatally Shoots
Himself
ATHIs HONE on OAK STREET.
Full account Of the Tragic DC,
currcacP.

Yesterday afternoon about
O'Clock, Edwin Solomon, an old res
iden. of this city, was found dead, b,
MS eldest son. +. J. Solomon. OF
the kitchen floor ofthe family resi-
dence at 100 Oak Street.
The deceased was lying fac
downward In large pool Of blood
with a CHASTITY wound in the righ
side OF tie head just above the ear
The brains of the dead mar
together, with pieces OF his skull
were scattered about the room in all
directions. At his siie and partly
untieT the lower limbs of the body
was single barreled shot gun,
through which Mr.. Solomon met
his tragic death. Attached 10 the
trigger OF the fowlins piece was a
heavy cord, uei 80 as to form n
loop, aud into this, It is supposed,
the unfortunate man put his foot.
thus dischsrging the weapon while
: reaching for his ram-rod on a table
sncGr by.
{ Mr.. SJl1mon was alone in the
house at the time of the fearful
fatality. On finding his father in
the condition described, young Mr..
solomon at once gave the alarm,
and in a few minutes the
house was filled with neigh
bors anxious 10 lend any
assistance within their power; but
all TO no avaik the leaden messen-
gers had done their work by
removing the side aud upper part Of
| the heal and embedding themselves
| in the joists of the ceiling, almost
directly above where the dead man
lay. Mr.. Solomon was the father of
six children, ranging from four to
twenty-one years of age. His wife
del about two years ago, and since
that time il is said that Mr.. Solo
mon has been Inclined ID seek soil
tade. 1t was rumored that his
death was due to scif-sies,ruction.
while in a fit OF desponiency. This
theory, however is contra iicte,i by
his relatives and those who knew
him best.
Coroner Harris was SUNNI 1nei To
the scene Of the fatal shooting, and
gave notice of the Inquest, which
was held at the undertaking estab-
lishment Of Joseph L. Taylor, az 10
O'Clock today.
T. j. Solomon, scn OF the de-
ceasel, testified-t was absent from
home yesterday afternoon; shortly
after O'Clock, when | returned, /
found my father lying on the kitchen
floor, dead, in pool of blood, with a
shotgun pointing towards his head;
there was = shsstiy wound on the
right side Of the head. Never heard
my father express his intention to
commit suicide; he was not that
Kind Of a man; placed the string
On the gun n few days before while |
out hunting; the string formed a |
loop through which | put my right |
arm aud carried the gun with the
muzzle downward, with my hands |
in my pocket; forgot TO remove the
sting on coming hons. Do not |
know what my father was doing
with the gun when he met with the |
accident. If he intended to go |
hunting / WIS not aware of IL.
Z. Alicock testified Il have |
known the deceased for six months;
he was always jovial and good
naturej when | met him. Yester-
lay afternoon about four O'Clock |
went to Mr.. Solomon's house on
Oak Street, in company with his
son who has Just testified. Young
iir. Solomon went into the house
and rushed out INN siiateiy after
warls, saying that his father was
dead; / entered the house and found
Inc deceased with = gunshot wound
IN his heal from which blood AMI
b7ains We're flowing; a. his side was
l shotgun with a string on the
trigger; the string was thus attached,
TWO or three days before, by T.. J.
solomon, son of the dead man,
while We were out hunting to-
yether.
James Solomon, brother of the
deceased, tes.ified-The deceased
has always been very. careless i'm
fire arms. On several &C.
;asions in yeaIs past the deceased
mas had narrow escapes from death
~ the accidental discharge OF his
gun, in fact he was 50 criminally
;areless in this respect that myself
and other brothers refused TO allow
lin to accompany US on our sport
ng expeditions. In my opinion he
net his death by the accidental dis.
.harge 0. his gun while endeavor-
ng 10 extract cartridge and
lean the gun preparatory to
90 hunting ducks today. 1
10 not think he has had any in
.ention Of committing suicide at
any um-; be has always been an
Easy going fellow, never troubling
himself about anything.
A. =. Solomon, a nephew OF the
deceased, testified-Acc ording to the
Dosition Of my uncle's body aud the
belonging to the gun, /
I'M OF the opinion that he came to
ais death while cleaning his gun
to going duck hunting;
ne informed me on Saturday last
hat il was his intention b. 90 shoot
ng today, providing that he could
Jet n pair of rubber boots.
This closed the taking of testimony
md the jury rendered the following
'eriict:
Territory OF UTAH,
County Of Salt Lake.
AT an inquest held at 253 east First
south Street, in the City of Salt Lake.
IN the 9Th day of January, 1891, before
I. 4. Harris, Coroner Of said county.
lpon tho body of Edwin solomon,
hen and there lying dead. by the
jurors whose names are hereunto
The jurors on their oaths
10 say. from the evidence presented,
hat we the jury do find the de-
,ei-ed. Edwin Solomon. came to his
ieath on the 4th day OF January, 1891.
L No. l2J Oak Street. in Salt Lake
ciiy, Utah, from n gunshot wound in
he right side Of the head, accident
lily inflicted by himself while in the
let OF preparing his gun for shooting.
IN testimony whereof the said Jurors,
Is well as the said coroner, have here
INTO set their hands the day and year
irst above written.
T. E. HARRIS,
;. III. BANKS, Coroner.
$50. WI>ENAS,
!. c. Ross,
Jurors.