Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1896-05-07
DEATH OF L. J. WOOD.
The Community Startled by the Sad
Intelligence.
The Jury Finds Verdict That Deceased
Came TO his Death Acct
dentaily.

Saturday evening about $50 O'Clock
the people of Phoenix we're startled at
the word which went from mouth to
mouth to tle effect that City Assessor
and Tax Collector L. j. Wood had just
shot himself and was dead.
Mr.. Wood had been prominent cit
zen of Phoenix for number of years
and was one of the most popular young
men of the CITY. He had been seen by
his friends during the day and to all OF
them had appeared in his usual iovisl
manner and as though he did not have
single trouble on earth. 1t was this
fact that caused the news of his sudden
death TO come with such shook to HE
friends
TO HERALD reporter the beresved
wife stated that about two months ego
Mr.. Wood had purchased So calibre
American Bull Dog revolver which be
asd placed in the bureau drawer in his
room at home. Friday night she went
to the bureau drawer for some purpose
and noticed that the revolver WAS not
in it's accustomed place. When Mr..
Wood returned to the house that even
;ng she asked him where the revolver
was and be stated that be bad ID in his
pocket where he bad placed it for the
reason that it was the first of the month
and be was carrying a great deal of
money in his pocket and was afraid of
being held upas be went ONE late at
aight. The next day she again saw
that the revolver was not in it's accus-
toned place and at noon he told her
that he had left it at his offics. That
evening be went home at about $50
o'clock When hs entered the house
he carried two parcels ia his hand.
One parcel containing meat for supper
be placed on the kitchen table. The
other parcel was a copy of the HERALD
in which was wrapped tie revolver.
Retaining the second parcel in his hand
be passed on into the bed room after
pleasant word with his wife. A moment
after he entered the room the family
heard shot and the sound OF falling
body. Mr.. Noe vain, the father of
Mrs. Wood, who was in the house at
toe time rushed into the room and
found Mr.. Wood lying on the floor with
a wound in the right temple from
which the blood was flowing. He was
still breathing but in few moments be
died without usteriDg o word. Between
dis legs which were outstretche2 lay
the revolver and the copy OF the HERALD
in which it had been wrapped. Physi
clans were at once summoned but the
unfortunate man was beyond all human
sid.
Justice tombstone was at once mott
fed and summoned a cororer's jury who
viewed the body and adj 'urned until
this morning, when they listened to ali
the testimony obtsinBble and rendered
their verdict, which was that deceased
came to his death from gunehot
wound self inflicted in an accidental
% amer.
Deceased was 30 years of eGe and was
born. at Alsmoss, Iowa, at which place
be lived until he came to Phoenix abou:
six years ego. Since living here he has
made friends by the score. and year
ago was elected city assessor by a large
majority.
wife and little boy are the only re
letives in this city left to mourn bis
death, while a sister aud aged father in
the east will learn the cad news with
much suffering.
The body was consigned to the grave
yesterday afternoon under the auspices
of the local lodge Knights of Pythiss,
assisted by the Eiks, Workmen and
Woodmen, OF all which orders deceased
was a valued mem ber. Services were
held az the residence by the Rev. Mr..
Mckinney, of the Presbyterian church,
ard oAe of the largest funeral corteges
ever witnessed in Phoenix followed the
body of the unfortunate man to the
grave.