The Detroit times., 1910-01-11
BRAVES Death TO
SAVE W0ULO-bE
SOICIDE
Andrew McGovern Fights Way
Through Gas Fumes To Rescue
Charles A. Pollock, Who Opens
Jets and Lies Down To Die.
Victim, Like Brother Who Took His
Life, Driven To Despair By Liquor
and Loss of Friends.

Following In the sootsteps OF his
brother Herman, VINO took his own life
Aug. "a, by inhaling gas. Charles A.
Pollock. saloonkeeper at No. 4O3 Du-
tois-st., made a desperate and almost
successful attempt on his life early
Monday morning. by the same method.
He was saved, IT, spectacular fashion.
by Andrew McGovern, former city
fireman, who climbed through win
dow at $3.50 o'clock in the morning,
and after being twice overpowered by
the gas. managed to drag Pollock from
his bed. throw open ali OF the win
dows anu doors, and then worked for
a. half hour rolling the unconscious
man on the floor, until he had revived
him.
The hand OF death was the cause OF
Herman Pollock's suicide. and also
figured in Charles Pollock's attempt.
Drink, too. was 8 feature In both
eases. With Herman. suicide wa5
Preferable to indulgence In drink
when he was crushed by sorrow over
the deaths of his wife and baby. He
left touchingly pathetic note. stat
ing that he felt he would rather die.
while he had the respect OF his friends
and relatives. than TO fall TO tie
dregs. through drink. to which he
might resort to drown his affiiction.
Charles. less strong-willed than his
brother, grieved constantly over the
death, on Christmas eve. OF his only
child, Herman. a year nnd four months
old. He sought liquor for his solace.
and under the continued use OF II. his
mind gave way.
Thursday he disappeared from
home. leaving his wife. Matte, In a
fever OF anxiety. He returned. Sat-
uTday night, to say that he had been
in Cleveland and Toledo, but that his
mind was blank as to his move
ments.
His wife saw him handling razor
and a revolver, and grew terror-strick-
en-. She called III Andrew McGovern.
living at No. 81 Waterloo-st. for help
In Watching Pollock and taking care
of the business
After Pollocks return from his
strange trip. he brooded constantly.
Everyone feared him. His wife left
the house. Sunday. seeking refuge with
relatives. She cautioned McGovern
10 be particularly watchful.e 81
McGovern left Pollock at / O'Clock
Monday morning. 10 go downtown and
escort a telephone operator home. He
returned &c the Pollock home, in the
rear OF the saloon, at 2:30. and re-
ceived no response to his knock. At
tempting to peer into a window, he
noticed An odor of gas. He quickly
ran across the street, and asked the
proprietor Of a confectionery store 10
help him investigate. McGovern
frankly confessed that he feared that
Pollock was laying trap for him.
With the other man standing guard,
McGovern forced open a window at
the side Of the house and crawled In
McGovern had more than five years
OF service with the fire department.
He was dropped from the rolls after
the Heyn's bazaar fire, because he took
drink OF liquor and was caught by
battalion chief. He bravely fought
his way into the house. There are
three rooms, and in each one, gas
Jet had beer turned on full. The
house was filed with the fumes. Nc
Govern fell, In the middle of the room,
but managed to crawl to door way.
He was nearly dead when he reached
the fresh air. Weak from that expert
ence, he was overcome again while
trying TO reach Pollock's side, with the
door and one window wide open. He
finally opened every door and window
in the place. and then dragged Pollock.
out
II took half hour of hard work at
artificial respiration to restore Pol.
lock. When he was reviving, Nc
Govern sent to Hunt-st. station for
three policemen. to prevent any fur
ther trouble.
Pollock was much better. Monday
morning. but his wife n still fearful
of further attempt on his life.
He will be taken to the home of
relative for u few days, and 1t is prob
able that his case will be turned over
to the probate court.