The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-11-25
Robert L. Gilbert Blew Out His
Brains Through Dependency.
Business Cares and the Death Of His
Children Some Time Ago Un-
balanced His Mind.
WAS POPULAR YOUNG MAN

Mr.. Robert L. Gilbert, caboose
carpenter employed in the local |. c.
shops, who resides near the Nolan
grocery, near Goebel avenue, in the
Worten addition. committed suicide
this morning about $3.50 O'Clock by
shooting himself through the head
with a 3S-caliber pistol. which was
found by his side when his wife was
awakened by the report of the pistol
and ran in to find her husband lying
on the floor, his head In a pool OF
blood which was fast increasing In
size from two streams which gusheC
from both temples.
Mr.. Gilbert got up about $3.50
O'Clock this morning and dressed
His wife remained in bed and asked
him to make a fire In an adjoining
room. He kissed her and left. Mrs.
Gilbert dozed OF to sleep and was
suddenly awakened by a noise like
that of something heavy dropping.
She got out OF bed and ran into the
room to find her husband lying on the
door, blood and brains oozing from
a horrible-looking wound in the tenn
pie. A pistol by his side told the
tale.
Mrs. Gilbert gave an alarm and
Drs. Jeff Robertson and Adrian Hoy
err we're summoned. They could dc
nothing for the wounded man anc
he died shortly before s o'clock sur
rounded by members OF the family
and friends.
An examination of the wounds
show that he had fired one shot
through the left temple. the ball COM
ing out at the other side. The wounds
were such that death would have re-
suited instantly but for Mr.. Gilbert's
vitality. The physicians
did all they could to ease the pain,
but saw his condition was hopeless
from the start. He was never con-
scious after firing the fatal shot.
Gilbert was about 35 years Of age
and had been living here the greater
part OF his life, coming originally
from Galloway county. 1t is said. He
had been working for the |. c. until
a few months ago when he decided to
purchase a half interest in the Nolan
grocery. He remained in the grocery
business for several weeks and final
ly firing Of this. he sold out to his
partner and went to st. Louis and
other cities to work, finally return
ing to Paducah and seeking employ
ment in the local shops again.
He often told his fellow-workmen
that he was sorry he sold out his
grocery interest as he could have
done much better In this business
than at his trade OF caboose carpen-
tering. He seemed to brood over
this a great deal and in addition, last
year two OF his children died within
a short time. and the grief and shock
are believed to have affected his
mind. 1t is said he had never APP
peared to be the same since, and that
finally dependency caused him to
take his life.
The deceased was quite popular
with his many friends. He leaves a
father and mother. Mr.. and Mrs. J..
B. Gilbert who reside on Hunting
ton Row. a brother. Mr.. William Gill
bert, two sisters residing near Ben
ton, Marshall county, wife and one
small son. He was a man Of quiet
disposition and suicide was the last
thing his family and friends thought
he would resort to. He had not been
complaining. and his domestic life
had been happy.
Acting Coroner Jesse Young held
an inquest over the remains of Mr..
Gilbert this morning and the verdict
was that he came to his death by a
pistol ball. not stating whether with
suicidal intent or not because the ev-
idence was very uncertain.
The face bore no powder burns, it
is said. and this leads some of his
friends to believe that Gilbert was
preparing to put on his hat, which
lay on a machine near by, and that
his pistol was under his hat and fell
on. 1t developed that he had been
In the grocery business again and