The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-08-23
SELF-MURDER.

Geo. Bolender, an industrious
Young Man of this Place,
Shoots Himself.
An Anonymous Letter Blindy Leads
Him TO the Thickets Where He
Seeks Relief From Mental Torture.
On Tuesday morning gloom of
sadness and despair fell like n blight
upon all the citizens of this vicinity
when the unwelcome news was
heral ded that George Bolender had
committed suicide under a fit of
despondency. Reluctantly as these
tidings were received, the eager
crowds Of men, women and children
hastened to tho woods, I mile north
of town where the PROSTATE body of
the young man was found He
seemed to be in perfectly sane
condition without any trouble until
Monday shortly before dinner.
Young Bolender was in the employ
of Elias Hummel, IA liveryman, and
cared for his employers horses.
George was quiet, uuassuming
young fellow who enjoyed the re-
spect and admiration of many
friends. The only thing that can
adequately and consistently be at
tributed as the cause of his suicide
is the receipt of a letter. The COM
munication was received by Mr..
Bolender shortly before dinner,
when he started for the woods.
While on his way, he tore the letter
into small pieces. Tho fragments
were gathered aud placed together
when the following message was
disclosed I,
MrprLKDuaoa, L 2o.'ei
DEAR FRIEND:
want
| that there are some OF - cItl-
zens who are going T. lel Mr..
Carbon Seebold 30 Eou for
robbing his money 4 He says
you were cauGht { ee uimes and
the church membC.s are going to
bring il before the Church Council.
| hear every body u town talking
about it, III L wue you, | would
leave town at once. Everybody Is
talking about it.
(Signed Your Dear Friend.
The question now arises, who is
"Your Dear Friend ~ 1t is prob
ably some one who was desirious of
doing a favor to Mr.. Bolender He,
appreciatinS this good turn, tore
the letter so that no vestige might
remain to reveal the mystery of his
strange deed
The fact that he left town without
m oney and only his old clothes and
a revolver led to the suspicion that
he took his own life rather than to
face the allegation made in the let
ter. In addition to this evidence
was the fact that n shot was heard
about II o'clock noon. From these
corroberations suspicion grew into
full l-fedged belief. Searching par
ties started out toward evening and
continued their explorations far in
to the night, but without avail. On
Tuesday morning, the search was
diligently resumed and success soon
crowned their faithful efforts. At
s o'clock, Milton l.. Moatz and Fred
Smith found the body lying pros
trate upon the ground, cold in death
not more than 30 yards from the
road. He was lying squarely upon
his back. A bullet from n 32 calibre
revolver pierced the brain near his
right ear and passed entirely thro' his
head. The revolver lay on his right
breast pointing toward his neck,
Both hands were resting in grace
full position upon the lower portion
OF his chest. The white hat, he so
often wore, was still upon his head
and was somewhat colored with
blood that oozed from the wound,
his mouth and nose.
The place he selected for trans
porting his soul from time to eter-
nifty is the most secluded spot in
the grove, it being behind tree,
while ON all Sides thickets of pine
hid the body of the dead man from
The ardent eyes of eager searching
parties. His aim was sure and he
must have met death without Il
struggle. A jury was empanelled
by James p. Smith, Justice of the
Peace, as follows;
ii. II. Grimm, Foreman, Aaron