The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-02-02
DESTRUCTION
Joseph GrOzier Commits Suicide
"A Shocking Tradegy--A ~
Winchester Does the Work.


-
At about 1890 A. NJ, Sunday the
usual quititude of our town was start
led by the report of a ~riae-shot that
warned those within hearing that
Joseph Grozier. brother of our esteem
ed townsman Capt. VIM. U. Grozier,
had, undoubtedly 10 a moment of tenn
porary insanity, taken his own life.
AT the time the tradegy occurred Capt
Grozier wa cutting wood in the alley
between the postotice building and the
butcher shop only a few feet from the
room in which the fatal shot was fired.
Upon hearing the shot Capt. Grozier
immediately entered the postofice
building by the front door and passed
through the first room which he occu-
pies and into the adjoining room
where he found his brother lying on
the floor in a pool Of blood, he immedi
ately gave the alarm, but human aid
possessed not the power to restore that
which had been destroyed by the hand
of self destruction, and those that bad
gathered about the unfortunate man
could but watch the slow dissolution
Of life from the unconscious body.
THE RANGE scribe arrived at the
scene a few minutes after the act had
transpired and beheld a revolving sight.
There he saw the victim of his own
rashness lying upon his back on the
floor in a vast pool Of blood and brains,
with blood, brains and pieces of skull
scattered ABOUT the room. The bullet
entered the forehead a little to the left
of the center just above the. left eye
brow passing through the head and
emerged alta point on about the line
and on the level with the point of en-
trance, taking with it the whole top of
the left portion of the skull and brains
leaving a horrible vacuum. yet in this
condition he continued to live in an un-
conscious condition until nearly four
o'clock in the afternoon. When found
the implement Of destruction, a 44-cali-
bre Winchester rifle was alongside OF
him near his feet. From indications it
would eemthat he stood in a STOPPING
position, placing the muzzle of the rifle
or against the forehead the bullet
passing through the roof Of the build
ing. From what can be learned Of re-
cent actions and remarks dropped by
the deceased it seems evident that be
had premediated the act which he exc
cuted at the first available opportuni-
ty. There was no other person in the
building at the time of the shooting.
While cutting wood the Captain saw
his brother enter the front door of the
building and a moment latert heard the
shot.
The remains of the deceased were
buried in the cemetery at ? O'Clock
Monday afternoon where brief burial
service was conducted by Mr.. George
Edwards and a hymn sang by the
choir.
The deceased was one of the pioneers
of the Black Range, he and his brother,
Capt. W. u. Grozier first made camp at
Roundyvillc, January 4th, 1881. He
was a native of Massachusetts, was
hfty-six years OF age and unmarried.
Joseph Grozier was an eccentric man;
a man of peculiarlties but posed Il
a kind generous heart that softened the
rougher exterior that incased 1t and
melted away the insinigicant faults
that gather as parasites upon man
kind, and all those who knew him can
not but regret his sad ending. The
relatives Of the deceased have the sy-
patty Of this community in their sad
af1ptiOn