The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1900-05-31
MIR. c. M. CROSBY KILLS HIMSELF

on last Monday morning when the sad
news was heralded over the city that
Mr.. O. NJ. Crosby prominent drug
gist of this city, had ended his life by
pistol shot fred into his brain.
This terrible tragedy of self-destruc-
tisn took place in water closet at his
store about $3.50 Monday morning last
Mr.. Crosby had been in bad health for
the past nine months and had been con-
fined to his home awhile, but by good
nursing and medical treatment, he re-
euperated sufficiently to resume his
place at the drug store. But still he
had nervous spells that seemed to de-
press his mind, and during those spells
the least noise would upset him.
Monday morning about O'Clock he
left his lovely home on Cherokee street,
cheerful and expressed himself as feel
ing good deal better. His farewell
greeting to his wife was cheerful and
assuring. His thirteen-year-old daugh-
ter, Virginia, was out in the yard as he
started off, and said, Good bye, papa
good-bye" A happy response came
back: Goodbye, daughter!" and
smilingly he wendell his way on down
the street, carrying in his hand a small
can OF tomato plants. He stopped in
front of Mrs. McKinney's residence and
joined with others there in looking
fhrnI.rb St1nnEnA cloas
eclipse. He then came directly to his
store and gave the usual morning
greeting and stated that he was feeling
better than usual. After while he
met Mr.. Schilling out on the front
sidewalk and asked him to fix hy-
drant at his home. He then returned
to his office desk and began to make
out accounts. After working some
time he got up and passed out to the
rear of the store. Shortly thereafter,
Mr.. John Brinyark, who was at work in
the Legg warehouse, painting chairs for
the Marietta Chair Co., came into the
drug store and stated that "A man had
killed himself in the water closet.
Mr. NJ. ID. Hodges and Mr. Ed Man
ming, clerks IN the store, hurried to the
water closet, and the horrifying spec
tacle that met their gaze will not soon
be etfnced from their memory. There
on the floor lay their beloved employer,
Mr.. Crosby, dead, with pistol at his
side.
Marshal Murray Hawkins came about
this time and felt of his pulse, his body
being warm, he called Doctors Cortel.
you and Nolan. On examination they
at once pronounced him dead.
Mr. John Brinyark and Mr.. Henry
Beavers, who were working in the
warehouse, just across the street, heard
the shot and saw the smoke curling
upward from the closet. They crossed
over and peeped through crack in the
plank fence, and saw the PROSTATE
form on the floor and Immediately re-
ported the matter as above stated.
Coroner M. II. Lyon held an inquest.
The jury was composed of Capt WI.
Hudson, foreman; E. H. Northcutt, F.
j. Northcutt, A. H. Legg, Geo S. Owen
and A. B Gilbert.
All the evidence adduced left no
doubt of the fact that Mr.. Crosby de-
liberately left his desk and went back
to the rear o. the store and shot him
self. The ball entered the right side
of the head just above the temple and
death was instantaneous.
The pistol was 81 calibre Smith &
Wesson. The pistol was one borrowed
by Mr.. Ed Manning from Mr.. Clarence
Power and with Mr.. Crosby's permits
sion, was placed in his desk drawer on
Wednesday of last week. On Sunday
morning, Mr. Crosby and his little
daughter were in the store and the
pistol was observed by his little daugh-
ter and she asked Mr.. Manning about
it being there. He told Mr.. Crosby
what she said, and he replied, ED, you
had better give that pistol back to its
owner" Mr.. Manning answered: Il
intend to do SO tomorrow"
Tomorrow came, but with it that
nervous feeling that seized upon the
depressed and worried brain of Mr..
Crosby and in fit of momentary alb
lection and physical pain, he seized
the pistol and quietly went out and
ended his earthly existence.
Outside of i'll health, there is no
known cause why this rash deed should
have been perpetrated. His drug store
was doing good business, no debts.
and everything moving along success
fully and prosperously. The interior
OF his store at his request had Just
been reprinted and repapered, showing
that Mr.. Crosby was taking deep in
terest in the future of his business. He.
had a large number of friends who
spoke encouragingly to him every time