The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-31
HIS OWN HANGMAN.
Grocer Found by His Wife Sus-
pended by the Neck.
FAILURE CAUSED pesPoNDeNcY
George W. Nash, Weary of Struggling
With Fortune, Adjusts the Fatal
Moose Himself, and Dies.

George W. Nash, 80 years of age, committed
suicide yesterday afternoon about s O'Clock, by
hanging himself with sash cord, in an out
house, at the corner OF East and Prince William
streets. The cause attributed is dependency on
account of business reverses.
Nash had acted in . strange manner for sew
eral weeks. His wife found about the premises
At different times ropes which had been tied in
such manner as to indicate suicidal intent OF
the one who put them there She watched her
husband closely. and hoped to keep him
from doing anything rash. Yesterday afternoon
he went out into the back yard. Mrs. Nash
knew that he desired to 60 down town about 5
O'Clock and went ont to ask him IL he would
like his supper early. She did not see him In
the yard. but noticed that the door of the out
house was closed. This she tried TO open, but
found it fast. She got lever, pried the door
partly open, climbed upon a chair and
looked over the door. The sight chilled
her with horror. There hung her husband
suspended by cord fastened to one of the raft
ers. The moose had been skillfully placed
around his neck, the knot being such a one as a
hangman would use and properly adjusted
under the left ear. The length OF the cord was
such that he could stand on the floor without
danger ofstrsngulation, but he had drawn his
legs up close to his body and thus accomplished
his rash purpose.
As soon as the first shock wore off Mrs. Nash
ran to the house, got knife and cut the cord.
The body fell to the floor and the door could be
opened
Police Officer W. F. Laubscher, who lives in
the neighborhood, was notified, and with the
assistance Of one or two bystanders, carried the
remains into the house. Efforts to revive the
man were unsuccessful His pulse had stopped
heating, and he was dead. Coroner Horton was
notified and pronounced 1t q case of deliberate
suicide. The remains were placed in charge of
Bonney Stewart, awaiting funeral arrange
ments.
The following paper executed by Nash on
March Ii, furnishes evidence of his premedi-
tated intention to end his life:
SEATTLE, March H. 1892
hereby appoint George T. Gardner, James
be administrators of whatever property have
GEORGE W. NASH.
Attested by f. B. Fowler, notary public, and
witnessed by Clark Mckercher and Fred II.
Peterson.
Nash came to Seattle from Massachusetts,
about two years ago. He went into the retail
grocery business with William II. Hayes at No.
1872 Yesler avenue. Matters did not move
smoothly, and he sold out his interest in the
business to James Anderson. Shortly after this
he opened a store on Yesler in close proximity
to the old stand, but was unsuccessful and went
out of business. For some time he
was idle, but finally obtained work at the
Risdon-Cahn Company's store. then on West
street For several weeks he has been unem-
ployed and respondent Some who knew him
were of the opinion that his mind was slightly
deranged. He owned considerable real estate
in the city and the lot and house in which he
lived 1t is said that the residence property is
heavily mortgaged. He leaves a wife and two
children, George, aged years, and Myra, s.
Arrangements for funeral services have not
been made