The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-04
4 BULLET ENDED IT.
Shame Too Great for Merchant
PatrOlman Merrill.
he KILLED HIMSELF YESTERDAY
His Body Found in His once, a Hole
In His Brains, q Pistol in His
Lap. a Letter for His WIFI.

Worried beyond endurance by the awful
charge made against aim. torTnented by
the whispered words: There he goes
and stGng TO the quick at being the butt
OF rude jests, Almond A Merrill, the we'll
known Merchants patrolman. ended all
by blowing his brains out with a 4l-caliber
Colts revolver.
The deed was done Yesterday morning
about o'clock in his office IN the Olympus
block, Pioneer place. but his body was not
found until two hours later. All the evil
dences OF elaboration were present, and in
a letter directed TO his wife he declared his
innocence and said he was the subject OF
conspiracy.
Early last Friday evening Merrill was
placed under arrest on the complaint OF
Robert Miller. who owns a stable that is
located near the corner of First avenue
south ana jackson street. He was charg-
sd with being in the stable for an in
famous and unnatural purpose. The
next day application was made
70 Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Morris for a warrant, but Nor
ris refused pending a further investiga-
ton. Sunday night, after having had in
terviews with all the witnesses, and also
owing 10 desire Of Merrills friends TO
oaii him out, a warrant was issued. JUS
tlce McElwain released Merrill on $500
bonds, given by Dave West and j. C.
that he was gazed at on the street by pee-
PIE ne did not even know, and thu boys
made rude remarks. He tried 10 bear up
and declared his innocence.
Yesterday morning Merrill got up at
o'clock, telling MS wife he desired to see
William Mountjoy, one of his men, as IL
was collection day. He went directly down
town and entered his Office. About us
o'clock Jantor Andrew Anderson heard
him moving about. AT 1913 O'Clock West,
accompanied by u. 3. Speliman. the plum
Der, went TO the office and West tried to I'M
lock the door with MS key. He found that
there was another key in the lock from the
inside. In view Of what had taken place
he feared the worst and called Merriils
name aloud There was no response. With
the assistance of Spellman he climbed up
and looking into the N through the
transom saw Merrill sitting on the floor.
his back against door 70 an adjoining
office. and a big pool of blood on the floor.
Deputy Coroner Teater, who happened to
be passing on the street was called in.
He found that Merrill had evidently seat
ed himself on the floor. put his back against
the door, and then placing the muzzle OF
H-ealber Colts revolver at his temple,
just above the ear, fired. The large leaden
missile had torn through bone and
brain as II they were paper, and coming
out on the left side of the head above the
ear had continued its course and Embedded
itself in the wall about five feet away.
Merrlls head had Popped over to the right.
and as his lfe's blood poured itself cut in
a red stream it had stained his clothes and
formed big pool on the floor. His hands
were at his side, and his revolver lay in his
lap. In the pocket of an overcoat which
Merrill had on was a letter directed as fol-
lows: Personal. Mrs. a. A. Merrill.
Person finding this letter please deliver
personally to Mrs. A A. Merrill
Teater took charge of the letter and sub
seauently turned il over to Coroner As
kam who delivered il to Mrs. Merrill. The
coroner did not see the contents of this let
ter Ii dealt, however mainly with busi-
ness matters Mr.. West said that Merrill
made no direct statement in what he wrote
about killing himself, but asserted MS IN
nocence of the charge against him, and
said it was a conspiracy Mefrli sald ne
was not long for this world.
The body was removed TO Bonney AZ
Stewards morgue, and ii is probable that
an inquest will be held.
Merrill was born at Anoka, Mimi, TWEEN
ty-nine years ago. His parents are sun
living He was well educated, ana lived
for many years in Minneapolis on COM
ing West he went to Helena, where ne
remained a year. Then he went back
home. but after remaining short time
came West again, as far as Denver. After
the big fire he moved to this city tie was
a brick moulder by trade. and for some
time made good wages at HIS brick yard.
Finally he went into the Merchant Iaroi
business. and made a success. Four years
ago Dave" West bought an interest IN
the business. Merrill was married year
and a half ago to fine woman. and four
months ago a girl baby blessed the union.
Merrill owned considerable real estate, and
was building a nice house at 22i Poplar
street. in North Seattle His estate is
valued at 5000. His wife will receive
81 90 cash from the 4. O. L. w, as he
was a member of Evergreen lodge.
II was said yesterday by some people
that they thought Merrill had not been
exactly in his right mind of late.