Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-25
COOLLY PLANNED
HIS DESTRUCTION
Ostensibly Planning Trip for His
Health, Brindle Prepares
to Kill Self.
FORCED TO QUIT WORK
Also Had Financial WOrries-Fres
Bullet in Mouth, Producing In
Simultaneous Death.

Coroner John F. Rose held an in
quest this morning over the remains
of Gait Brindle, who committed suicide
in the railroad yards at the foot of
Twenty-ffth street yesterday after
noon, but no light was thrown on the
motive for the deed other than de-
spondency over i'll health, as was told
in The Argus last evening.
Four witnesses were examined by
the coroner and the Incidents bearing
on the tragedy were brought to light
as follows: Mr.. Brindle had been in
i'll health for the last two or three
years and several weeks ago it affect
ed his heart and his condition became
serious. On one occasion he tainted
away while standing in front of the
dresser in his room at his home, 620
Thirty-eighth street. and it was nearly
an hour before physician was able
to revive him to consciousness. He
was warned after this that he had
better 90 south and take a rest and
he began arranging his financial af-
fairs apparently with this end in view.
Planned Deed Calmly.
He evidently had no idea Of going,
however, as he planned his own death
most calmly. A. G.. Randall, a sales
man at the Rock Island Hardware
company, testified that Mr.. Brindle
came into the store yesterday after
noon about 2 o'clock and bought a re-
volver. He examined the stock which
the showcase contained and chose one
which would fit several cartridges
which he had in his pocket. He re-
marked to the clerk that he wanted a
cheap revolyer-one which he could
shoot around little, and keep at the
house"
An hour after purchasing the revol-
yer he returned to the store and in
formed the clerk that a mistake had
been made somewhere, as he could
not get the gun to shoot. An examina-
ton showed that the cartridges which
Mr.. Brindle had attempted to use
were Of the rim fire variety and that
the gun was made for center fire cart
ridges. Mr.. Brfndle thereupon pur-
chased a box of the right sort and de-
parted again.
Probably Tried Twice.
His returning to the store and say
ing that he had tried the gun and
found that it would not work makes
it seem probable that he had already
tried to shoot himself before the at
tempt which was successful. After
assuring himself that the new cart
ridges would work in the revolver he
returned to the spot he had chosen for
committing the deed and proceeded to
destroy himself The bullet was fired
into his mouth and it cut the jugular
vein in the neck, causing almost in
slant death. AS stated last evening
in The Argus, Henry Roehr, an en-
ploye of the Rock Island Sash & Door
works, heard the shot and the police
and the coroner were summoned.
Was Wen Known.
The suicide was well known through
out the city. and was generally liked. |
He had been employed at the Sash G.
Door works as bill clerk for the past
10 years and his position was a re-
sponsible one, requiring considerable !
Of his time and energy. He quit work |
about two weeks ago, giving as his |
reason that he was in i'll health on |
account of overwork
He was born in this city and he at
tended school here. He was Sc years /
Did but had the APPEARANCE of being |
considerably older. He is survived by
lis mother, Mrs. Sarah Brindle. and
TWO sisters, Mrs. Minnie Hnkinson- |