Arizona republican., 1906-10-26
TRAGIC DEATH
 OF J.H. BURGER
Killed by Accidental Shot
 Self Inflicted
Took Revolver from a Closet When It Was Mys- teriOusIy Discharged.

John H. Burger. chief engineer at the power house of the Phoenix Light & Fuel company. was accidentally shot and killed in the dining room of his home adjoining the power plant on South First avenue. shortly after 9 o'clock last night The weapon was a 32-calibre revolver. double acting. Smith & Wesson with five chamber. cylinder and was held in his own hand when it was discharged unless it had possibly been dropped on a nearby stand and exploded.
 The question between accident and suicide raised itself at once as a result of the peculiar cir | cumstances but there was no possible fact disclosed last night in support of a suicide theory that could not as l we'll apply to that of accident. Abso- lutely no evidence of a suicidal mo- tive could be found and on the con- trary, there is much to Indicate that the victim was in the happiest frame of mind. was never in his life more comfortably situated or facing better prospects for happiness and prosper ity. The coroner's jury will not re- turn its verdict until 2 o'clock this af- ternOon to which time the inquest was adjourned. but the conviction of each member last night was that the shoot ing was accidental
 The fact was reported to Coroner Burnett at once who empaneied a jury consisting of Fred Guntershcimer. W. A. Mayors, T. J. Whitney. Lee Red wine. C. w Barnett, c. $. Scott The portion of the house which is concern ed in a description of the tragedy con sists of four practically square rooms all connected by doors. The south east room is occupied by Miss Nellie Hooker and Mrs. II. L. Worden, who had retired. Directly in the rear. or southwest corner is the bedroom of Mrs. Burger and the two children. Di- rectly north of this, connected by an open door is the dining room in which the tragedy occurred. The other room in front of it is the parlor.
 In the northeast corner of the din ing room, clipping the corner. from window to the parlor partition, is a closet in which MT. Burger kept his clothes. To the right of the closet door was a little stand and between the door and the window on the left stood a chair. Mrs. Burger testified that her Husband had come to the house short time before 9 o'clock and was playing with the children. seem 4AAaA III blat pest pl SplIltS- W ntn Llt o'clock bell rang the little ones ran to him and said Daddy, it is o'clock, bedtime" A few minutes later Mrs. Burger prepared them for bed. and her husband then in the bedroom shis sleeping apartment being on a rear porch) kissed the little ones and their mother goodnight and stepped through the door into the dining room passing a little gas heating stove near the par tition, and began disrobing for bed Meanwhile the little ones were knce1 ing at their bedside saying their pray CTS.
 When the shot was fired Mrs. Bur- ger was startled by the strange sound. though for an instant she thought it was the gas stove. that sometimes pops when it is lighted. It was not the familiar sound. however. and she ex- claimed Johnnie. what's that2'' but got no reply and about the same time heard him groar- Rushing into the room she beheld him on the floor with
 head and shoulders reclining against the chair. The revolver was lying on the stand described above. and there pie. Later. on the arrival of Dr. Plath. the bullet was found just beneath the scalp a little above and a little back of the left ear. Four cartridges were left in the revolver. There was a
 blood stain on tae stand FeQver and some .on the cloth of the dining room table. on the other side of the pros