The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-16
suicide and ACCIDENTS
Two Early Morning Deaths OF Sad
and Tragic Nature.
GEO. MlNNICK SHOT HIMSELF
Poor Health Was tho Cause OF the Rash
,Deed-Christophcr Purcell In Seek
ing Cool Place to sleep Fell
Out OF Window.

Two tragic deaths took place yester-
day morning. One AT Dunmore ana the
other at Bellevue.
George Minnick. an old man 63 years
of age, killed himself at $50 o'clock
yesterday morning at his home. 70.
Fifth street, Bellevue. by firing bullet
into his brain through the center of his
forehead. The deed was committed In
an Clubhouse az the rear of the lot. "A
32-calibre revolver was the weapon
used.
The deceased was Il blacksmith but
had not done any work at the trade for
three years. He lived with his wife and
u erown,lip family, and had not been
In very good health recently. Two
months ago a man named Philip Young,
who lived next door to Minnick killed
himself in similar manner, and Min
hicks family often heard him threaten
| since then to end his existence as Young
| did.
HE AROSE VERY EARLY.
They watched him and kept weapons
| out of his reach. T.. Il. Swartwood, his
son in-law owned the revolver which
| ended the old mans life. and how the
latter got hold of it without being no
ticed Is Il mystery. Minnick arose at
& o'clock and after dressing himself,
went out the rear door of the kitchen
| A few minutes later shot was heard
and when Mrs. Minnick investigated
she found that her husband had killed
himself He was In a sitting posture
when she found him and the blood was
pouring from the wound. Life was en-
tinCt.
The police were notified and Captain
Edwards and Patrolman Saul arrived
| at 1880. They sent for Coroner Long
| street and removed the body into the
house. DR.. +. NJ. Pennypacker deputy
coroner, held an inquest in the after
noon and empaneled the following jury:
Thomas Duggan. \. J. Winebrake, F.
DeLacy, Henry Dugcan, John Carniff,
and r.. r. hector. Their verdict was to
the effect that it was case of suicide.
PURCELL'S FATAL FALL.
Christopher Purcell. of Johnson's
Patch, Dunmore, met with an unusual
death yesterday morning. He fell from
a window of the upstairs to the ground,
twenty feet. and he strucX on the Gel
lar door. in which there is u window.
One of his feet went through the glass
and two large gashes were inflicted at
the ankle. The loss Of blood was so
prof,se that he died three hours after
ward.
Purcell was As years old, married and
leaves wife and family of four small
children. The weather was so warm
| lNdt HS was W SiCCp hc iSit
his bed and went to the window sill
to derive the benefit Of a draught
Whether he fell asleep there and fell
out or fell out without falling asleep
Is not known.
WIFE HEARD THE FALL.
His wife heard the noise Of the fall
and after she saw him and realized his
condition she awakened some of the
neighbors. and DR.. A. II. Bernstein, of
Ash street, was sent for. The doctor
came as quickly as the circumstances
would permit. but he found Purcell IN
a dying condition from loss of blood
: and shock. Purcell died at o'clock.
Deputy Coroner Pennypacker. in re
spOnse to a call from there went up In
the afternoon to Investigate the death
on account of the rumors of foul play
that were prevalent He found nothing
! in the case to stamp 1t as any but &
case of accident, and therefore decided
that an inquest was unnecessary. Pur
cell was a miner and was employed II
. the Marvine shaft. He Is survived by
a wife and one child.