The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-06-01
HANGING TO A sAPLINo.
Jacob Gilbert. In a FIT OF Dementla,
Commits Suicide.

Gilbert-have been for some time employed
in the Cambris's Carpenter Department at
JOhustOEn. william and J. J. live at RoI-
bury, and Jacob has been living at Osborne
Station, in the Eight Ward. For long
time past Jacob was not sound mentally.
His condition was not improved by an at
tack Of the grip which he had last winter.
About a year ago he purchased farm from
q man named Sipe in Somerset county, pay
ing 500 in hand 10 bind the bargain. When
seeding time came he paid a man So to do
his planting.
In March last, during fitOfdesPonSency,
he rued having purchased the farm, and ask
ed sipe to take it back. sipe refused unless
Gilbert, who, it Is said, was then mentally
very much unbalanced, did, and thus got
nd Of the farm. Soon thereafter, when his
spell Of dementia had passed away, he re-
GREETED having parted with the farm and
mourned the loss OF his money. He st once
relapsed into q broOding. stolid condition
which told perceptibly upon him in every
way. He was at length compelled TO quit
work. and his time thereafter was spent
about the house. He had little to say TO
anybody. and went about gloomily and in
differently. On one occasion he remarked
that if be could go of into a dark corner,
some place where nobody could see him OF
speak TO him, he would get better in aboui
three weeks. He was also accustomed to
taking walks BY himself in lonely places.
His wife VIZ not, therefore, apprehensiye
"wednesday evening when, about O'Clock, be
said be w4s going for short stroll up the rail-
road and would return in fifteen minutes.
She. however, warned him to return soOni
as supper would be ready. One hour passed
and another, and another, and he did not
return. Then his wife became alarmed and
sent word to his brothers at ROcksbury,
They, knowing the peculi ariiies Of his men
tai condition and the places where he was
accustomed to take his Walks-along the rail
road and in Osborn's woods on the hill
across the river from the Johnson Works
started in search Of him. They had lanterns
with them, but the night was dark, there
was great deal of rainfall, and their pro-
gress was slow. They travelled hither and
thither through the woods and looked into
coal mines and other places where he might
have hidden, bet no trace of him was found.
At 5 o'clock in the morning, tired, rain
soaked, and heavy-hearted with dissppoint-
ment. they gave up the search for the night
and went home. At O'Clock they resumed
the search, accompanied by Chauncey Davis
and Frank Smith. They returned TO the
Osborne woods and resumed their tramp over
the same ground they had covered during
the night. They had not proceeded far
when, within a few yards Ofthe 3. q o.
Railroad, Mr.. Davis eyes fell upon the OBJ
iect Of their search in q sitting posture under
a small tree in the midst of thick cluster OF
underground. His companions were not a
second behind him in making the discovery.
They all approached the crsmped-looking
figure. Il was leaning somewhat to one
side. The hands rested on the ground. A
rope and two pieces Of tEine were looped
about the neck and, with piece ofraw-hide
were fastened in the forks Of the saPling
und er which be sat There was apparently
no life in the body, but nobody in the party
| touched II. There was no evidence of death
struggle. The man, TO all appearances, had
attached the rope 10 the tree and 10 his neck
and sat down, thus tightening the rope and
causing strangulation.
Without in any manner disturbing the
body. the party left the scene and called al
the residence Of Squire Weimer and inform
ed him Of what had happened. He sum
moned John Noon, David Barnhart, Robert
Barclay. William Lantzy, John Livingston
and William Grubb as jury Of inquest, and
with them and the dead mans two brothers
started for the place where the body wa
found. They discovered upon their arriva
that the body had been cut down. Thh
sensible act was done by Mr.. D. s. Shallen
berger. vel known as q Cambria weighmar
and 3 member of the Presbyterian Choir
who lives but short distance from where
Gilbert came TO his end.
After viewing the body the jurors picked i
up and carried it to the family residence, no
over quarter of mile distant. There {
weeping widow and many relatives and
friends received it in mourning for the dis
tressing fate that had befalen their kins
nan.
Squire Weimer left it with the relative.
to decide whether he should proceed with
the inquest or not The widow expressed
her onneSition 70 the proceedinz and the
Others also thought that no investigation
was necessary, hence no testimony wa
taken and a verdict OF death by hanging wa.
rendered. Shortly after the body was taken
to the house and washed and laid out
Deceased was born in Somerset County
near ForWardstoEn, about twenty nine years
ago. He went TO JOhnstown in 1881 and
learned the carpenter trade in the Csmbris
shop. His father and a younger brothel
still live at Forwardstown. His mother dieC
last winter. About seven years ago he snC
Miss Mary Croyle were united in marriage
His wife's parents live in part Of the sam,
building with her. She and Gilbert nevei
had any children. Their marital relations
the relatives say, were always pleasant, a
Gilbert was a saving, temperate, home-lovinl
man. He was a member of the Methods
Church, but belonged to no orders or societies
except the Cambria Relief
The remains were inferred on Saturday
afternoon at , O'Clock in Grand View Gene
tery, JohnstOwn.- olastoira Tribune.