Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-05
FOUND DEAD IN BED.

Der, during fit of temporary mental
alteration, last Thursday, committed
suicide at his home, No. 800 Pine street,
by putting bullet in his brain. Death
was evidently instantaneous, as the ball
entered Just back Of the right temple,
crashed through the wall of the skull
aud then found its way TO the brain.
Before this, however, he had shot him
self through the left hand. The suicide
was not discovered until $50 o'clock
in the mouing, when n brother of the de-
ceased went to the house to arouse him
from his, slumber and revealed the
tragedy.
John j. Horner, who was 81 years
old, lived with his wife and two small
children at the above address, and for 90
years had been resident of the Eighth
ward. He had been victim of melan.
cholia for period Of five months, and
had allowed business reverses and other
troubles to work upon his mind until
his reason was dethroned. He had
threatened to commit suicide on several
occasions of late, but no one believed
that he really intended 10 take his own
life.
Wednesday morning lie spoke to his
wife about his troubles, read TO her an
autobiography of his life, and wound
up by saying that they soon must part,
as he was going to kill himself. Mrs.
Horner humored him and urged him to
cheer up. In the afternoon she left the
house with her two babies and went to
the residence of Joseph II. Horner, a
brother, who keeps barber shop at No.
800 Bennett street. Horner remained
about the house awhile and then went
out into the street.
The truth of the matter is, while Mrs.
Horner tried to cheer her husband all
she could she was afraid he might do
something rash, and therefore took the
precaution to go to the house of her
sister-in.law. She told the latter of her
fears, and also informed Horner's
brother of his condition.
About ~ O'Clock last night week
Horner turned up at the restaurant Of
James W. Horner, third brother, at
No. 221 West Eighth street. He seemed
cheerful, made for himself a sandwich,
babe good bye to his brother and said
he was going home. That is the last
any Of the family saw of him.
About 80 o'clock Thursday morning
Horner's wife became anxious about
him, when he did not come to his
brothers house to see her, and as she
had Informed him of her whereabouts
she feared something had happened.
She asked Joseph Horner TO 60 up to
the house and see If her husband had
gotten up yet, and If not TO wake him.
So Joe Horner started off on his Grand.
Little Kenneth Horner, the suicides
4-years-old son called out after his
uncle: swat minute, I'll go, too"
and donning his cap he scampered away
with his uncle.
When the pair reached the dwelling,
the doors and windows were closed and
repeated knocking failed to arouse any
one. Joseph Horner pulled open the
shutters ON Eighth street and raising
the window lifted the little A. years-old
inside. The lad slipped the bolt and
opened the door. "Iou go upstairs and
tell your papa its time he was getting
up" said Joseph Horner, whereupon
Kenneth ran up the stairs and opened
the door leading to his fathers room.
"Papa, Papa" the child cried. There
was no response. "Papa's fast asleep"
said the little one, and then his uncle
assembled the stairway and looked into
| the room. He called out to his brother,
but there was no reply. lie approached
nearer to the side of the bed, and laid
his hands on the shoulder of the pros
trate man and tried to arouse him. He
felt something warm trlckle down over
his finger tips, and pulling back the
covers Of the couch, saw that the cloth
ing was despatched with blood.
On discovering the pistol, tightly
clutched in his brothers hand, Joseph
Horner staggered backward, but the
sight of the child brought him to his
senses. Catching the little fellow by
the hand he hurriedly led him from the
room and closed the door He fled Out
into the street, carefully closing and
springing the deadlock on the street door
After seeing that the child was safe with
its mother, whom he notified of the
affair, Homer went to police head.
quarters and gave the alarm.
Captain Kane, together with State
Detectives Witsil and McVey, went al
once to the scene of the tragedy and
made an investigation. The suspicion
of murder first reached the ears of the
police, but it needed only superficial
examination of the surroundings to con,
vince the officers and newspaper mer
that Horner had taken his own life. He
had undressed himself, donned nigh
robe and crawled into bed. Assuming
sitting posture lie probably held the
pistol in his right hand, and steadied thu
muzzle of the weapon with the finger
of his left hand while he aimed thu
weapon at his head.
The trigger of the fire arm was defec
tive and in holding ii back he must hav,
accidentally let go the first time, for til,
ball ploughod through the flesh of TIN
middle fingers Of the left hand and EN-
bedded itself in the wall just over til,
door sill. III
His aim was more effective the seconC
time, and the ball pierced the brain a
already described. Rigor morris hat
not set in when the body was found
and tho belief was expressed that til,
deed must have been committed between
and 8 o'clock Thursday morning.
Horner purchased the revolver from
w. II. Hartlo7c, 8 o'clock Wednesda,
evening. lie asked for cheap revolve
and said he wanted it for protection, a
he was afraid of burglars.
Horner owned considerable propert,
and is said to have been worth $4,000
lie owned the house in which he re
sided, the dwelling opposite, two house
on Spruce street, five on Nandeye
avenue and four on Claymont street
lie applied at the November court, 1892
for license to sell liquor, was turne
down, and applied again tho followin
May, and was again refused. He wa
equally unsuccessful ut the Septembe
term, 1898. He was arrested with Joh
II. Spring for obstructing justice b.
spiritlng away u witness, tried at til
February term, 1893, and acquitted. Il