Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-28
Pasadenan'S Remains
Bear Bullet Hole
in Skull
Sad Sequel to Merrill's
Flight Of Fifteen
Months Ago
Worried Because Twin Sister Whom
He ldoIlzed Expected to Become
Brde-Parents Believe
Youth Killed Himself

The mysterious disappearance of
George Merrill fifteen months ago was
cleared away Wednesday afternoon by
the discovery of a skeleton in the Little
Santa Anita canyon, which, when
brought to Pasadena, was identified by
the young mans parents.
A hole in the right side Of the skull
and revolver lying near the body
with one Of it's FIVE cartridges dis
charged are accepted as proof that
the young man committed suicide
about the time of his disappearance
fifteen months ago.
Charles j. Beal of Hollywood and
Frank j. Massing of Pasadena dis
covered the skeleton while they were
clambering through the brush about
half mile above the trail leading up
Mount Wilson and some two miles
from Sierra Madre.
The skeleton was entirely free from
flesh, bearing evidence of having been
picked clean by coyotes, and the head
itself laid some sixty feet away, proba-
bly, dragged there by the coyotes A
few inches from the bony fingers of
the right hand was a rusty revolv er
with four cartridges in it and not dis
charged and one cartridge discharged
The hole in the skull appeared to tell
~the story in its completeness.
The tattered and discolored remains
of the mans clothing were scattered
about the ground near the skeleton.
Coroner Arrives
Constable Harley Newell of Pasa-
dena was at once notified of the find
and after telephoning to Coroner Trout
proceeded to the scene
The skeleton and all that would as
siSt in the identification were brought
to Pasadena and cared for at the un-
dertaking rooms of Reynolds & Van
Nuys.
In the coat pocket was found small
account book and inside this book were
the remnants of a letter, although the
rains of the past winter had matted
the whole into mass impossible to
separate.
1t could be seen that the letter was
signed George" and at another place
could be deciphered the address "72O
East Villa street.
1t was remembered that some fifteen
months ago young man of the name
of George Merrill, living with his
parents at this address in Pasadena,
had mysteriously disappeared. causing
much excitement at the time and that
as far as was known he had never
been found. The young mans father.
Albion Merrill, still living at 72O East
Villa street, was finally eommunica ted
with and told of the discovery.
Father Identifies Corpse
Mr.. Merrill FASTENED to the under
b taking rooms where all that remained
or the boy, the clothing revolver and
letter were shown him. He immedi-
ately identified the revolver, a cheap
American bulldog with a six-inch bar
rel, as having belonged to his son. The
handwriting he also recognized and
the clothing apparently a black Clay
worsted, and a soft fedora hat he was
certain had belonged to his son and
were worn by him when he disappea red
fifteen months ago.
Last night both mother and father
visited the undertaking rooms and
again identified these articles. making
it absolutely certain that the skeleton
is that of their son.
speaking of the probable cause of the
young mans suicide, for there appears
TO be no doubt that death came at his
own hand the sorrowirg mother re-
called the Incidents preceding her son's
mysterious disappearance.
Worries Over Sister
George lad been away lro. home
some time she stated, land on his re-
turn learned that his twin sister Louie
was about to be married. He appeared
to worry about this great cal and for
couple of weeks was seepless. walk
ing the floor for hours at time during
the night and telling me hat he hadn't
been seeing enough of his sister of late
He worried a great deal over the
fact that he was bout to lose her. We
were much concerned over the affair
naturally, but did not expect anything
LAO come out OF it.
THE day that he disappeared he and
his other sister got into a friendly
scuffie over a letter he had just writ
ten. She wanteC to see it and he would
not let her.
Finally he told her seriously
that she would see it soon enough. 1t
is likely that the letter dccovered on
the body today is the one. and it may
tell of the action my son was about to
take"
This appears 20 be the only reason
which can be assigned for the young
mans taking his life melancholy in
duced by the approaching marriage of
his twin sister The young man was
born in 1884, being therefora about 21
years old at the time " his death, and
was a printer He reside with his
parents in Pasadena and worked at diff
ferent times for the News ohice in
Pasadena and the Mcbride Job office in
Los Angeles
Student at Throop
He was student at -hrcop Poly
technic institute for a time after the
Samily went to asadena four years ago
and was we'll liked by those who came
to know him.
1t is believed that the young man had
made up his mind fully to the deed be-
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