The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-17
PERCIvAL LACKIE's SUI
eide.
He HAD PROPOSED TO HER,
BUT SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE
MARRIED AT
ONCE.
SUCH IS THE CHICAGO STORY.
Both Lived at Lawndale--Miss Smith
Has Figured in Another SINH
lar Affair.

PerciVal Ldckie, of Chicago, who
shot himself in the head last Thursday
afternoon at Wildwood, is still alive
at the city hospital His brother.
Thomas Lackie, arrived from Chicago
Saturday, but the wounded man had
sunk into Inconsistencies Friday
night and was not able to recognize
anyone. His brother, seen last even
ing, said that the news Of the shooting
was a great surprise. Percival left
Chicago on Aug IL, intending to go to
Montana. A postal card dated at ST.
Paul Aug. II announced that he had
arrived safely, and would write again
from Grand Forks The next heard
from him was the telegram announc-
ing that he was at the hospital. M.
Lackie said his brother had several
times left home and remained away
for several months. There was no &C.
casion, he said, for his going to Mon
tana, as he was employed at home
and could always get work there.
When he left Chicago he had about
$50 with him, and, being very free
hearted and Of a convivial disposition,
1t is supposed that he spent his money.
and, becoming disheartened and des-
pendent, shot himself. Mr.. Lackie
will remain in the city until the death
OF his brother which is only ques-
ton of hours, and will then take the
remains to Chicago.
The Chicago papers say there is the
usual lady in the case. In this in
stance it is Annie Smith, Of 1860 Lawn
dale avenue, in that city. The Chi
cago Daily News had the following in
teresting story about Lackie and Miss
Smith in it's issue of Saturday even
ing:
ALI Lawndale was discussing this morning
the attempt of Percval Lackie, of 1858 Lawn
Gale avenue, to commit suicide at st. Paul
night before last.
The young lady in the affair is said to he
Miss Annie Smith, of 1860 LawndaIe avenue.
once before man committed suicide because
ne could not win the heart OF this young
woman, and when the news reached her of
the action of Percy" as Lackie is called by
her and best known among his friends, she
was FRUSTRATED with grief
The information received from ST. Paul was
very meager, but enough was known among
the residents of Lawndale this morning that
tnere was not person on the streets in
the store who was not discussing the fact
that Laekie had been wounded ONLY few
suspected that he had any trouble with Miss
Smith. The young woman is at present tax
ing care OF an invalid friend Of hers on
Ayers avenue, just north of Ogden avenue.
Lack1e was employed by his brother Thomas
Laekie in the grocery store at the above num-
Der; was known as one Of the most accom-
modat1ng young men in the suburb, and was
we'll liked by all. He was suddenly seized
with spell of nelancholia a week ago last
Monday morning and until Tuesday evening
acted SO queerly as to attract the attention Of
all his associates Tuesday evening he sud
denly gave up his job and left the next day for
St Paul, from which place he intended to go
to Montana. His sudden departure was
against the most urgent appeals of his rela-
tlves, and he went away without even saving
goodbye to his sweetheart. She received a
letter from him on the 18th saying:
hope you are not angry because I came
away without seeing you because if you were
1t would destroy the brightest prospects of
my life"
The trouble is supposed to have started
two weeks ago when several Of the young
people in the neighborhood went to a picnic
Miss Smith refused to go on account of a
woman friend whom she was taking care of.
The young. man was angered. but got in
good humor by the next Sunday and took
Miss Smith out buggy riding. On this trip
he plucked up his courage and proposed to
her. She accepted, she says, but objected
when he wanted to turn over the team to
some one and go to Milwaukee on the first
train. He spoke several times of going, but
she would not listen to it, and they cot home
about 10 O'Clock in the evening. It is reported
that the couple had falling out that night
but this the young woman denies She saws
however, that she feels somewhat to blame
Four years ago on Christmas night George
Mckee. man to whom she was engaged
came Ddck from ST. LOUIS, carrying the en-
gagement ring, which she refused to permit
him to place ON her finger. because she saws
his mother had told her of some trouble
which he had in ST. Louis. The young man
went into a saloon ON Willard avenue and
shot himself. This recalled in connection with
the act of Lackie makes the young woman
nervous. And the night Lacke is said to
have shot himself Miss Smith says she had a
queer experience.
II am not superstitious" said Miss Smith
this morning, but had such feeling night
before last and that is when Percy was
wounded or, as 1t is said, shot himself. went
down home and as I came back here to Mrs
Brooks there was a large dog followed me-
do not like dogs and am usually afraid of
them, but 1 was not bit scared of this one
can't just tell how it looked, but 1t was black
and white, ard isn't that strange?-that in
dicates young person. The animal came
clear home with me. l stepped into the
house and closed the door. The dog scratched
SO hard that ! opened the door so it would
not disturb my friend. Then I walked out
on the back porch. The dog seemed to cry
and licked my hands And that night I
dreamed that I went riding with Percy in
white carriage. Then when l heard yes
terday that he was shot I was sick all day.
Oh / know if he did it it was all my fault"
Miss Smith would not attract attention on
the street on account of either her beauty or
her LONELINESS. She has such a pleasing APP
ton is interesting. In appearance she is a
tall blonde with light hair and gray eyes,
Her age is twenty-five years, being about
the same as that of the young man. Miss
Smith is well thought of in the neighbor-
hood.