Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-10-17
HORACE LEACH COMMITS SUICIDE.
The Proprietor of the Capital
City Nursery
PUTS A BULLET THROUGH HIS BRAIN.
A Deliberate Act Explained by
a Letter Found this
Morning.
PUTS A BULLET THROUGH HIS BRAIN.
DELIBERATE SUICIDE

was committed Sunday, between
five and six o'clock by Horace
Leach, proprietor of a nursery and
owner of a beautiful home in this
city. He has been well known all
over the valley for some years as q
careful and prosperous business
man and had amassed quite for
tune. He was a man of great in
dustry, about the last man one
would have thought capable of COM
mitting such an act.
WHEN LAST ALIVE
Mrs. Leach found him at his desk
writing. She had been at the
cemetery on the street car and laid
herself down to rest. Mr.. Leach
saw some callers, went into the
kitchen and played with his little
daughter Edith a while. He then
went up stairs to his room, stayed
two minutes, came down and passed
out to the barn. The family did
not hear the fatal shot. Thomas
Andrews saw him fall, and at once
gave the alarm.
DEATH BY PISTOL.
He chose the pistol as a weapon,
placed it at his forehead and fired.
His death was almost instantaneous,
as the bail went clear through to
base of the skull. Mrs. Leach was
told of the awful event but was 80
prostrated that she could not go out,
but was able to be up and about
this morning. The unexpected
death of Mr.. Leach has effected her
deeply.
HE LEFT A LETTER
that was found this forenoon in the
trunk in bis room. 1t read thus:
"SALEM, Oct.-1S92.
MY DEAR WIFE:-I feel and
know that paralysis is taking a
strong hold ON me and 1 determined
long ago that rather than suffer or
be burden to anyone, when l knew
it would do no good, l would end
my life. 1t may be fearful thing
to do, bnt / do not fear death. My
life has in the main been a happy
one, as compared to a great many
and my greatest regret now is that
L leave you In such trying circum-
stances. X M I don't know but
this will kill you, I hope not, 1
would not do this if could see any
possible chance. But paralysis is
working fast know and there is no
Sc trying to keep it off,"
He made some requests of per-
sonal character, asking TO be buried
in Rural cemetery, though Mrs.
Leach may take the body back to
his old home in Ohio.
A number OF the family on his
mothers side suffered from strokes
of paralysis and became helpless for
years, finally dying of it, This fact
preyed upon his mind and rather
than suffer for years he shook off
the "mortal coll'' in most deliber-
ate manner. He took his life as
cody as he would have taken a
drink of water.
Mr.. Leach was Sc years old, was
born at Madison, Lake county, Ohio,
was married and had three children
born to them and died there-two
nearly grown and one a babe. He
came almost direct to Salem, where
he worked at first In the Il. D.Jones'
nursery, and year later he began
to start in the same business for him
self. He built up a large business
and did extremely well. Nearly
two years ago he bought a beautiful
lot near the state house, and erected
one of the best residences In the city.
SETS HIS HOUSE IN ORDER.
Several weeks since he was nego-
tiating q sale of this property 10