The Detroit times., 1910-04-18
MURDER VICTIM IS
|DE n T|F|EO AS
GEO. PRITcHETT
Rev. H. A. Magoon Recognizes Body
as That of Man He Had En-
Deavored To Reclaim From
the Liquor Habit.
Man Found Dying on Congress st.
East, With Two Stab Wounds, AMI
Remains Unconscious To End.

The Rev Herbert A. Magoon. assist
ant pastor of the Central NJ. II. church,
partially cleared up the mystery SUI
rounding a supposed murGer on Con
gress-st. east, Saturday night. when he
visited the county morgue early Mon
day morning, and identified the VIC
um as George Pritchett IS years old,
OF No. 30 Hastngsst
Prltchett was found by Albert Patri
and Walter Underwood, OF No. III
Congress-st. east. lying on the grass
III front OF No. 1913 Congress st. east.
u; midnight. Saturday. lie was bare
~ conscious, and mumbled something
which the men could not understand.
There was deep stab wound In his
back. Just below the left shoulder
blade. and another wound in his cheST {.
near the left arm pit. He was carried
20 the police department barns, where
he died within a few minutes.
The police are OBTAINING 4 witness,
William Neuman, wno says he saw
Pritcnett near Einhauser's saloon,
FOrt and Brush-sis. Wiping blood from
ms face. The salooEkeeper says there
was no fight In his place.
Pritchett. who leaves a widow and
five eareol1- daughter Nernetta- MAS
lanitor OF the building at No 20 Hast
iugs-st.. and also worked AS rein
forcCr for Bryant a. Detwiler. contrac-
tors. on the new Palmer building on
Washington boulevad His absence
from duty ~ the apartment house was
vaguely connected with the unidenti
fed man in the morgue. and the land
lady communicated her suspici ions to
Pastor Magoon, who visited the
mcrgue and Identified the body
IT'S murder said the minister
for the nature of the wounds shows
that they could not have been self
inflicted Liquor undoubtedly was re
spOnsible. but those stab wounds
ended one OF the bravest fights
against liquor that | ever heard OF -
Pritchett had been a slave 10 drink
Tor years. A man who drank for the
love OF the liquor. and not for socia
bility's sake he would wander Off
alone. 10 saloon. drink alone. and
was never known To associate with
crowds az jewellers. a fact which will
make it difficult for the police to
solve the mystery OF his death lie
was not quarrelsome was a good
workman and an affectionate husband
was his great fault.
Last August man staggered MP TO
Pastor Magoon after one of the prayer
meetings in the Central NJ r.. church.
It was Pritchett
Elder" he said. i've got 10 quit
this liquor or il will XIII me | want
YOU TO help me want To battle It.,
and | want help" He passed over u
partly filed flask of whisky and Mr..
Magocn took up the work of helping
Pritckett
Occasionally the man lapsed. lie
was then living on Elizabeth-st.. and
Nh. Magoon often went TO the house,
and sat up all night with Pritchett,
pleading. arguing. and finally storm
ing at the man. who would finally re
new his fight. and prove to be worthy
OF the effort Finally a member or
the church gave his wife and children
a rcnt-free nome by giving him the
ianitor.ioh He had not touched
luiuOr for two months. saws Mr.. Ma
cuan. was working at his trade every
day. and in addition was faithfully
performing his duties as janitor. His
wife did washing 10 help him along,
and things were Frightening up for
the family. when Pritchett was killed.
When he lett home Saturday even
ing about o'clock. his little daugn-
Ter. Vernctta. who was III with a colo,
Crawled ND on his knee and begged
him to stay home and play with her.
"Ill be away only few minutes:
Tn gcirg downtown, but will be right
back. said Pritchett That was the
last that they saw of him.
The couple came here three years
ago from Dayton. q. Mrs. Pritchett
formerly resided here
She is left in destitute cicum-
stances.