Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-29
aEose e o1xoN,s 5 uIciDE.

He Had Been Melancholy for Over
Year-Interesting Facts Developed at
the Coroner. Inquest, Thursday Morn
ing.
Deputy Coroner Chandler summoned
Jury Thursday to inquire into the
death of George Dixon, So years old,
collector for the Massachusetts Life In
surance Co., who committed suicide
Tuesday week by taking two ounces of
laudanum. Or. J. +. Speck was chosen
as foreman of the jury. The inquest
was held al the house of w. 8. Hoffman,
No. 905 West Ninth street, where Dixon
took his life.
Mr.. Hoffman testified that Dixon had
been in the employ of the insurance
company for about a year. Dixon was
special policeman on election day,
having been appointed by the Board of
| Police Commissioners. He was an
ardent Democrat, but the story that he
brooded over the defeat of his party at
| the polls to such an extent that il Gull
minated in suicide is denied by Mr..
| Hoffman and the intimate friends OF the
| young man. He had suffered from
melancholia for about year, aud 1t was
| developed at the inquest that he was
| fully determined to take his own life a
| year ago had he not been persuaded
from his CHASTITY purpose.
Dixon, prior to November of last
year, resided with his mother on Madi-
son street, between Eighth and Ninth,
and Mrs. 9. Jones lived with them.
When the mother, died year ago,
Dixon went to board with Mr.. Hoffman
and had been with him ever since. Mrs.
Jones testified that about a year ago the
young man made his will, leaving to her
all his bedroom furniture and private
effects. 1t was reduced to writing at
the time and produced Thursday as
evidence before the jury. Dixon felt
that he was indebted to Mrs Jones for
attentions paid his mother during her
life time, and for fear that she had moi
been fully recompensed for her services
left her his personal property.
1t was shown by the evidence of Mrs.
Jones that Dixon year ago told heI
that he intended to take his life. He
said that on the evening before he was
at her house, in November year ago
he got his razor and went before the
mirror with the intention of cutting hi:
throat He realized what horrible
sight it would be for Mrs. Jones t
behold, SO he determined not to commi
suicide on the night in question. Mrs
Jones testified that she encouraged TIL
young man to cheer up, that he hat
everything to live for and that it wa
folly for him to think of suicide. Sine
: that time he had called to get her to C.
some mending for him and Mrs. Jone
! had induced him to renounce his dissG
: lutte habits and lead more temporal
: life. He had not touched drop .
, liquor for over six months, Mr.. Hot
: man says, until election night, when Ii
7 INDUCED in the flowing bowl to such a
e extent that he became intoxicated.
7 Tuesday week, after posting som
} letters, Dixon retired to his room abou
II O'clock. The next morning he di
a not awaken at the usual time and M
Y Hoffman went up to call him. He wa
Y Mortified to find the man dying. Wor
G was sent out for a physician, and DIR
n Pyle and Finn were prompt to arrlv
e The man was beyond human assistance
k He died without uttering word.
II Deputy Coroner Chandler explaine
y to the jury the manner in which Il
" body was lying when he first saw it an
C created considerable surprise by Il
6 statement that he had taken razor OF
p from under the body of the dead ma
i This led the jury to believe that Il
k suicide had intended to cut his thro
E. with the razor in case the laudanum
(. not perform its deadly function.
Several witnesses testified to the ia
70 that Dixon had shown signs of mela
2 cholia for the past year, and often
as spells of depression were so noticeab
i as to lead them to believe he was men
Of ally unbalanced. He would afterwar
is recover from these spells and at intcrvu
u he was of jovial disposition. Then
10 would relapse into state of despon
n. ency again. In a letter which he IL
as behind, Dixon wrote the followi
a words "Good bye; there are too ma
a lives for me"
il The jury rendered a verdict of dea
it. by suicide.
IS The funeral took place from the hol
m of his brother