The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-02-09
HE COMMITTED SUICIDE
That is What ii Appears Jerry
Hoskins Did.
The Statement of an Eye Witness
and other Evidence Goes TO Prove
it---was Tilted in Love.
Parker burg Journ~l.


Parker burg Journal.
Did Jerry Hoskins commit suicide?
Detective Heaton, who for three
weeks has been working On the case
with practically no clue TO start with,
has reached the conclusion that Hos
kins drowned himself and he produces
evidence to substantiate this claim.
1t goes to show that Hoskins was
crossed In love, that young woman,
a resident of Riverside, whom he
greatly admired, did not reciprocate
his lavish affection and looked with
mere favor upon young man, bar
tender of this city.
There is DO doubling that the
drowning Of Hoskins above Davis
vile three weeks ago Sunday night,
was so quietly referred to as to arouse
suspecions; and it is not surprising
that his mother, who lives at Morgan
town, displays an anxiety concerning
her sons fate expressing the belief
that he had been foully dealt with.
Detective Heaton was formerly of the
same opinion but further work upon
the case satisfies him that Hoskins
made away with his own life. Mrs.
Hoskins has written the Detective
repeatedly concerning it urging him
to ascertain the details OF the mys-
terious drowning. To satisfy the
mother and the local authorities De-
tective Heaton undertook the case.
For considerable time at first he
was baffied because he could get no
clue leading up to the drowning, but
NOW he has procured evidence which
goes to show that Hoskins committed
suicide.
Geo. Taylor, of South Parkersburg,
who was bringing raft of timber
down the little Kanawha and had it
moored that night above Dayisyille,
was an eye witness to the drowning.
ssThree men, said Taylor ssnamed
Jerry Hoskins. Pat McGinnis, and
Geo. Friendly came to my boat about
midnight. They wanted to &c across
the river and asked the use of my skiff
which / loaned them, They were
not drinking. Hoskins wore big
fur overcoat and had the pockets OF
it filled with rocks, which he said he
had for another fellow.
'Hoskins was the first to get into
the boat and no sooner did he get in
than, without any apparent cause,
fell into the river. The other two
men flshed him out and said they
would not go across the river in the
boat But as Hoskins was determin-
ed to cross, they said they would go
with him as they were afraid for him
to go alone.
'Hoskins got into the boat and
again fell in the river. / grabbed an
oar and reached it to him, but he
would not take it although it was
easily in reach Of him. With such a
big coat on and loaded with rocks,
too, he sank below the surface of the
water and was never seen again.
"Did Hoskins say anything that
led you to believe he intended to
drown himself?" inquired the re-
porter.
"Yes, he said to his companions
that they would never see him any
more. This was before he got into
the skiff.
iFriendly said as they stood there,
well, tomorrow means another $1.10
for me, meaning that he would make
that much working for the railroad
company.
"Hoskins replied that it would not
mean anything for him. He talked
as though girl named Grouse had
thrown him over in Parkersburg.
"Seyeral days ago Hosklns, so
Friendly and McGinnis told me had
several days prior to that jumped in
to the river from old man Carpenters
boat, above Dayisville, and was fished
out. They were much excited"
"You don't think there was foul
play.?"
"No, | do not. l know that he
committed suicide. The skif had
not left the shore, when it occurred.
The river was high at the time and
the current was swift"
Taylor told straight story and
there is every reason to believe that
he knows what he is talking about.
Everything goes to show that Hos
drowned himself and Detective Hea
ton is satisfied upon that score.