Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-26
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Remarkable Suicide of John
G. MustilI
nix SLASHES HIS THROAT OPEN
With a Bread knife and Walks Out Into
An Alley TO Die-DeseEtsd by HIS
VIE He Grew Dsspondsnt.

Last evening al 1880 otheer Mahey
found the body of Jack Musnli lying
IN the alley AZ the rear of NcQuewan
* McQu llien's saioen with MS throat
cut. As the offieer was pztroliing hls
beat on Ottawa street MS attention Was
attracted by q mysterious sound Of
gurgllng and hard breathing coming
from the alley and upon investigating
he found the body with little life yet
remaining. The alarm WAS gwen and
police headquarters neufied- Detec-
Ives Smith aud Darr went to the scene
and 4 Was not long before a crowd OF
curious people were present. When
the detectives arrived MustilPs life
blood bad flowed from his body and
life was extinct. The dead mans
pockets were searched and letter Was
found which read as follows:
Letter roand on Him
DETROIT, March %.
DEAR JAcK-Nou Will be surprised
when you hear where | am; but II was
not my fault. Whisky done the whole
thing, and this Is wnere II landed me; Il
and i am about crazy. Al l do is
walk the floor and think what nave
done, and nope you will forgive me rs
much as l. W.iie me one line, III not
more, and l Will be the haI est girl
that ever lived. 1t was al put up
Job that you got me here, and X had
not been drunk would not have come.
Now, Jack, will not write much, for I
Go not expect any answer; so goodbye.
From your disgraceful darling.
Mss. J. L. MUsTIIL,
Detroit.
The envelope was addressed 20 "Joh n
Mustill. l46 Kent street. Grand Rapids,
Mich" and contained the following
written upon its back IN masculine
hand, "Good-bye. Please send my
body to London, Ont, to my fathers
hCme for burial"
Deserted by His wife.
Mustill had lived in this city about four
years and was blacksmith. He had
worked IN Kinney's shop on Kent street
for the lsst three years. He WAS mar
red q year ago 10 ''Dot" Johnson and
they had lived together at No. l46 Kent
erect until two weeks ago, when
,ne lett him. IL is supposed
that he worried over the matter
until he became tired of life. as he had
appeared despondent and become un-
steady IN his business. Last evening
he went into McQuewan d McQuillen's
saloon and sat around for while,
when those present said that he stepped
out unobserycd. A dIligent search
was made for the knife IN the vicinity
where the body lay. but no trace OF 1t
could be found. Coroner BradIsh was
called, who turned the body over TO
Undertaken OBrisn- After the dead
man was removed 20 the undertaking
rooms the detectives continued their
search for the knife.
Cut with q Breed Knife.
They went into the saloon and made
close examination of the premises.
Drops of blgod were found on the floor
leading from the back door to the
lunch counter and following up the
track q huge knife used for cutting
bread was found covered with blood
lying on the counter. Ii was surmised
that Mustlll walked up To the counter.
which was partly secluded by parti-
ton, and taking the knife slashed 1t
across his throat. LAID the knife down
and walked out through the back door.
He had evidently sat down on the
steps, for pool of blood
was found at that point. He then
walked out into the alley and Tell from
exhaustion. An exam nation Of the
wound revealed that the artery on the
left side of the throat had been severed
and the WIND pipe had been niched,
tue wound evidently having been made
by three or four jerks OF the hand.
Hs Had ueen Drinking.
lie hsd not been seen to- drink any
thing N the saloon nor did lie appear
To be under The influence OF liquor
wnen he entered the place, although
he had been drinking during the first
o. the week. Coroner Bradish eai-
paueied - jury at the undertaking
rooms as follows; G.. T. Clark, James
Cowens. A. y. Aibee, III. l.. Brown.
Fred Marshall ana III. &. Read, Tor the
purpose OF holding an inquest. After
the jury had oeen sworn the inquest
was adjourned until this afternoon At
. O'Clock. to be held al Coroner Brad
fShfs Of1Ce