Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-27
DIED UNDER GUARD.
James Gilkey Kills Himself in the
Presence of His Relatives.
HE NEARLY AMPUTATED HIS HEAD
While His Two sons-in-Law Kept Con-
stant Watch at His Bedside.
BORROWED A KNIFE TO PICK HIS TEETH

The most remarkable and deliberate sui
eide ever known in Allegheny county oc
CURED yesterday morning at the little ham
let of Boston, near Elizabeth. James Gil
key, aged "a, almost cut his left hand of
and bled to death. while two men sat by his
bedside and watched. They did not know
anything of it until his ashy color told them
he was dead. They did not even then sus
pect suicide until the covers were turned
down and the bed found saturated with
blood. His life blood had simply ebbed
away while they sat and watched.
James Gilkey is one of the leading citi.
zens of that quiet little country town. Evel
since the Pittsburg, McKeesport and
YoughioghenY Railroad was built he has
been supervisor of that upper division. He
owned the pretty home in which he died
and considerable other property in that
neighborhood, and was regarded as solid
man. He has wife and ten children liv-
ing. They are all grown up and married.
Killed Himself While Under Guard.
For some time he has been suffering from
yellow jaundice. A month ago he was
forced to 60 to bed. The disease had pulled
him down so that of late he has become
peevish and melancholy. He would at
times look at his thin hands and then,
shaking his head, remark that he was a
physical wreck and he could not live long.
At times his mind wandered and it was
feared he might hurt himself His sons
and sons-in-law have been watching him
night and day. Monday night j. H.
Muse and F. G. Humme we're with their
father-in-law.
All the early part of the night he was
restless and depressed. At midnight he
asked the time, and later, when ne asked
marked, 'The night seems awful long"
Then he asked for his medicine, and refused
to take it when offered to him At 3 o'clock
he asked for a. glass of water.
and then complained that there
was something in his teeth. He asked for
knife and Humme gave him his He picked
his teeth for time and then covered HIM
self up. That was the last time he spoke.
He had closed his eyes and they thought he
slept. Then Muse lay down on a couch
while Humme watched. Humme said he
Law motionless save once, between and
o'clock, he drew his right arm across his
body. His eyes never opened and he did
not seem to suffer much pain.
He Had Nearly Amputated His Hand.
At o'clock the CHASTITY color of the pa
tient alarmed Humme, who felt Gilkey's
forehead and found it was cold. He called
Muse, and then they caught sight of little
red spot on the white spread that was
gradually growing larger. When they
turned down the covers they found all the
clothing saturated with blood and
lying on the abdomen was the open knife
where it had fallen from the half closed
right hand, its strength having vanished
before he could draw it back across his
body. The left hand was almost amputated.
The nerve of the man had been so steady
that down under the covers he had cut the
arteries of his wrist and severed the flesh
down to the bone
When it became known that James
Gilkey had committed suicide, the town
became all excitement and the people
around there focked to the house. Squire
William Douglass was quickly sent
for and jury was empaneled, and
after the remains were viewed the inquest
was held at the 'Squire's Office. j. H.
Muse, F. G. Humme and NJ. G. Gilkey, .
son, were the only witnesses. A verdict
of suicide while temporarily insane was
rendered