The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-12
FRANK PYLE DIES
BY HIS OWN HAND.
A Bullet Into Ills Brain Ends His Exis-
tence.
NO CAUSE FOR THE TRAGEDY
He Was in the Best of Health and Spirits
Evidently Wien he Reached His
HOne-MedicaI Student
Suicides

Frank Pyle, one of Wilmington's best
known and most highly respected citizens,
died by his own hand at his home, Tenth
and Orange streets last night. The trage-
dy which cannot DO accounted for, has
shocked the community. Mr.. Pyle was
prominent in business and municipal af-
fairs and the fact that he had chatted with
friends yesterday, rakes. the death moro
mysterious.
Mr. Pylo's dead body was found shortly
before o'clock. he entered the home
about an hour previous and went immed
lately to his room on the third floor of tho
building No one was in the house at the
time but Annie Thompson, domestic,
who was busy preparing supper for COM
pany that were expected. Annie did not
hear pistol shot.
Mrs. Pyle and her daughter Amelia had
been driving and returned about o'clock.
A fcw minutes later Mrs. Pyle went to
her husbands s room and found him dead
In his easy chair, his head dropping on his
breast and his hands hanging by his side
On his breast lay A calibre revolver,
where 1t had fallen after the shooting.
Mrs. Pyle ran screaming downstairs
calling to the servant Frank Is dead"
Relatives and neighbors were summoned,
and Drs. Draper and j. p Pyle came to
the house. They said that death had been
instantaneous Mr.. Pyle had held the
revolver tight against tho right temple
aid fred.
There were many heart rending scenes
when the members of the family began to
gather at the home. Deputy Coroner
Chandler reached tie house about 73O
position Mrs. Pyle did and prepared it for
burial. Nothing in the room had been
disturbed. When Mr.. Chandler will hol
the inquest will be determined upon later
but when it is it will be strictly private
No reason Is assigned for the suicide
His son, Frank Pyle, Jr., who is travelling
abroad. married Miss Maud Wainwright,
who recently obtained divorce, Mr.. Pyle
assisting her.
His Oldest daughter, Miss Gertrude, was
married several years ago to W. A. Kit
chen, from whom she was divorced She
Is now at Detroit. His wife is the only
other survivor
Mr. Pyle appeared to DO in excellent
spirits yesterday and was about his factory
as usual chatting with the workmen. The
early part Of the afternoon he spent at tho
Southwark factory. He drove home with
his wife, who, leaving him nJ the house,
continued driving with her daughter. Mr..
Pyle then went to his room and shortly
atterward shot himself.
Mr. Pyle was one os the Municipal Com.
missioners who drafted the new city char.
ter, which was sent to the Legislature
Thursday. He was unusually cheerful
yesterday in discussing the charter
with the other Commissioners. He was
the son of Cyrus Pyle, founder of the G. &
j. Pyle Company, OF which he was presi-
dent The company is one Of the largest
in the country in the manufacture of pat.
ent leather The office and part of the
pant Is situated at Sixth and Monroe
strests, and the balance on the Delaware
river. His father was in the firm before
him, and Mr.. Pyle won't into the office of
the concern when quite II young man.
The deceased was,a director Of the Equi-
table Guarantee and Trust Company and
also a member Of tho Union League of
Philadelphia. He also belonged to Eureka
Lodgs, +. and A. NJ. Had Mr.. Pyle lived
until June 8 he would havs been 80 years
Of age. His widowed mother who lived
in large house next to his home, is now
sojourning in Florida.
Mr.. Pyle was reputed to have been
wealthy and the owner of considerable
property. He was twice married. He
was never known to have had any fnan-
cial trouble The pistol that killed Mr..
Pyle was an heirloom.