The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-09-03
PASTOR DEAD.
Rev. o. 3. .MilIigan Found
Seated in His Study
With Mortal Wound in
His Breast-Died Before
Arrival Of Physicians.


cident is only known by God himself,
because there was no eye witnesses
to the sad affair.
Rev. Milligan, who, with his wife
and two children, both girls, occu-
pied a resldenceat 1011 North Cleve-
land avenue. met death while seated
in an easy chair located in his study
about 1885 Friday morning and
double-barreled shotgun lying against
his lifeless body told mutely what had
happened to this popular pastor OF
the First Presbyterian church.
During the morning hours, as was
often his custom, he sat around the
house and the lawn with his feet en-
cased in nothing but his socks and
lust before the fatal end came he
spoke cheerfully to Miss Goldie Resh,
domestic employed at the house.
Miss Resh said that the minister had
been seen about the house during the
morning with his gun In his hands,
which was nothing unusual, as Rev.
Milligan was lover OF sports of all
kinds and much of his time was spent
I'm the country during the hunting
season or at the golf links, golf be-
ing one of his favorite pastimes.
While Rev. Milligan was seated in
the study the telephone bell in the
dining room sounded and Miss Resh
answered the call. The person at
the other end of the line desired to
know il 1t would be agreeable for
the minister to meet two missionar-
ies and she was told to tell the party
making the inquiry that he would be
at home all morning and invited them
to call. Miss Resh then busted her.
self with her duties about the home
and at this time Rev. Milligan called
to her and told her that he intended
taking a little recreation at the Coun-
try Club golf links during the after
noon and asked her to take good care
of the children, who at the time were
away spending a few hours with play
mates in the neighborhood of their
home. Mrs. Milligan was not at home,
having been called about ten days
ago to Waterford, Conn, by the SER
ious illness of her mother, Mrs. Mar
garet Agnew. Charles Agnew, her
brother, we'll known in this city, had
also been summoned there on the
same account.
Miss Resh had heard the report of
a gunshot, but she paid no attention
30 it at the time, as she never thought
that it was in the house. About this
time the two missionaries, clothed in
black appeared at the Milligan home
and made inquiries for the reverend,
according to the appointment made
with them over the telephone. Shoy-
ing the draperies apart that hung
er the door parting the study from
the parlOr the young woman discov-
cred the minister In his chair, gasp
ing for breath. Being badly scared
she ran TO the home If Mr.. and Mrs,
M. M. Geiger, 420 Franklin street,
and told Mrs. Geiger that something
had happened Rev. Milligan. Mr..
Geiger was telephoned for and he soon
arrived at the Milligan home in a
carriage, the horses being driven in
-saIlap. Drs. ]. +. Marchand and
E. J. March also responded quickly
to calls, but their services were not
necessary, as the last spark of life
had already died away and the spirit
of the beloved pastor had taken It's
departure. Neighbors went to the
home at once. They found the body
OF Rev. Milligan still seated in his
favorite chair, one of his feet resting
for his children when they were
small. The gun, with It's deadly bar
rel pointed upward and the stock
resting on the smaller chair. was
still in position, while a gunshot
wound the size of silver dollar, i'm
mediately below the heart told the
rest. The body was removed from the
chair and placed on a couch nearby
and the physicians made hurried ex-
animation. From the position of the
body and the deadly gun 1t was de-
termined that the shot from the only
shell exploded had taken an upward
course and had torn the heart and
lungs as they travelled. They said
that death was instantaneous. AS sooT
as possible DR.. Harry A. March, tho
coroner, visited the home and viewed
the remains. While passing the chail
where death occurred the coroner
stopped down and picked up small
muslin patch, such as is used in wip-
ing the barrels of a gun. which
strengthened the belief that the shoot
ing was accidental and that 1t was moi
suicide.
A. l. Geddes, proprietor of the
Geddes Chop House on Eighth street
talked with Rev. Mtlligan about IL: 81
yesterday morning on some business
matters and at that time the minister
said nothing that gave any intima'
ton of an intention to end his life
Mr.. Geddes did not state just what
the matter was but from what he
said Rev. Milligan talked as though
he expected to live for some time anC
was not contemplating suicide.
Some of the friends of DR.. MilligaI
said that he had no troubles of any
kind that would prompt him to tak'
his own life, but of late he had beer
very nervous. One Of the motormeI
on the Cleveland avenue line, sait
that Rev. Milligan had rode home
on his car an evening or two since
and that he complained Of being Yer!
nervous at the time and that he wal
experiencing some trouble in getting
sleep and rest,
The news of the death of Rev. Mil
ligan soon spread over the city ant
knots OF citizens could be found oI
almost every corner discussing the sal
affair. He was what could be termet
of the common class of men and dur
ing his residence in Canton became
very popular both in and out of tn