The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-09-08
TRAGIC DEATH OF JAMES H.
SPRY STARTLES COMMUNITY
Shot Himself at Secluded Spot Near Dubois While Despondent
Over Financial Matters.-Fad Been One of the Towns
Most Enterprising Business Men.


James II. Spry, who shot himself
Thursday afternoon of last week, Sept.
End, was highly esteemed young man
and the report of his awful and untime-
ly end was a shock to his host of friends
in Reynoldsville, where he had spent
most of his life and for number of
years was popular and successful bus
mess man. James Spry was born in
England July 30, 1873, and wes 81 years,
month and days old on day of his
death. His parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Walter Spry, moved to Reynoldsville
in 1879, when James was less than a
year old. His father died thirteen years
ago, When James was eighteen years
old he embarked in the grocery busi-
ness In Reynoldsville and for twelve
years he continued the business, and on
account of his business integrity,
shrewdness, hustling propensities and
genial disposition he built up a large
trade and won the confidence OF his
customers, the Wholesale merchants
from whom he bought his stock, and
the people in general. His word and
credit were both good. He was prom
ising young man. August s, 1905, he
was united in marriage to Miss Blanche
Parker, of St. Marys, and the prospects
for happy and successful career for
him was bright. On the afternoon OF
August 81, 1908, his store, store build
ing and household goods were de-
stroyed by fire, in which his loss was
heavy. That was the first cloud to cast
a shadow athwart his hopeful anticipa-
tions.
About the first of October of last year
Mr.. Spry went to Aspinwall suburb OF
Pittsburgh and embarked in the gro
Gerry business. He did good business
and things run smoothly fos a few
months, but several months ago Mr..
Spry awakened to the fact that he was
doing too much credit business and
that the book account was larger than
his business would justify. He became
discouraged, brooded over the matter
and finally became Respondent and mel
ancholy. He was solvent and there was
no real cause for alarm oyer his finan-
cial affairs, and his friends tried to
reason with him but we're unable to get
his mind off the matter. His wife and
relatives thought it would be better for
him If the store at Aspinwall was sold
and he would move back to Reynolds
Vile, therefore the store was sold and
the move was made, but the melancholy
condition was not overcome. Mr.. Spry
intimated several times to friends tnat
the best thing for him to do was to
shoot himself, but it was not thought
he would commit the deed, yet his wife
kept close watch on him.
Mr.. and Mrs. Spry spent week at
Anita at home Of his half-sister, Mrs.
John Pomroy, and Mr.. Spry seemed to
become more cheerful and was apparent
ly getting out of his melancholy condi-
tion. On Thursday morning he in
formed his wife that he was going to
Dubois that day on business. She
wanted to go with him but he objected
and it was finally decided that he
would take his three year old son, Wal
ter, with him. They came to Reynolds
vile, where Mr.. Spry got check
cashed at the Peoples National bank
and remained in the bank until Sykes
vile car came in and Mr.. Spry and son
got on the car for Dubois. While in
the bank he talked rational, but did
very little talking unless asked direct
questions. They got into Dubois at
1910 a. m, Mr.. Spry telephoned to his
wife that they were In Dubois and that
he would call her up again in the after
noon. but she never talked to him again.
He took his son to home of his brother
in-law, Homer Barley, and remained
there for dinner. About 1.30 he start
out for walk, but did not take his son
with him. He went to Prothero, Bail
ey & Goodwins and bought .3S calibre
revolver, for which he paid $3.50,
walked out to a lonely spot in the woods
about half mile from the public road,
on the Andy Smith farm south of Du-
Bois, wrote the following note on back
of letter he had received in Dubois
that day: Dear wife, Blanche, and
mother:-Forgive me-nobody to blame
but me. God protect my son. Have
had good wife and mother an" and
then loaded the revolver, put box Of
cartridges and revolver box into his
coat pocket, took off his collar and neck
tie and put them in his coat pocket,
took off his coat, vest and hat and hung