The Detroit times., 1910-04-19
MURDER VICTIM IS
IDENTIFIED AS
GEO. PR|TCHETT
Rev. H. A. Magoon Recognizes BODY
as That of Man He Had En-
Deavored To Reclaim From
the Liquor Habit.
Nan 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. l.. church,
partially cleared up the mystery SUI
rounding a supposed murder on Con-
gress-st. east, Saturday night. when he
visited the county morgue early Mon
day morning, and identified the VIC
tim as George Pritchett, 3S years old,
of No. 40 Hastings-st
Pritchett was found by Albert Patri
and Walter Underwood, of No. 1l9
Congress-st east, lying on the grass
In front OF No. 1913 Congress-st. east.
az midnight, Saturday. He was bare
ly conscious, and mumbled something
which the men could not understand.
There was a 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
to the police department barns, where
he died within a few minutes.
The police are OBTAINING a witness.
William Neuman, who says he saw
Pritcnett near Einhauser's saloon.
Fort and Brush-sts wiping blood from
his face The saloonkeeper says there
was no fight I'm his place.
Pritchett, who leaves widow and
five-year-old daughter, Vernetta, was
janitor OF the building at No. 40 Hast
ings-st., and also worked as rel.f
forccr for Bryant a. Detwiler contrac'
tors, on the new Palmer building ON
Washington boHfeYad. His absence
from duty at the apartment house was
vaguely connected with the unidenti
fed man In the morgue, and the land
lady communicated her suspicious to
Pastor Magoon, who visited the
morgue and identified the body.
Its murder" said the minister
"for the nature of the wounds shows
that they could not have been self
inflicted. Liquor undoubtedly was re
spousible, but those stab wounds
ended one Of the bravest fights
against liquor that | ever heard Of
Pritchett had been a slave TO drink
for years. man who drank for the
love of the liquor, and not for socia
bility's sake, he would wander of
alone. TO a saloon, drink alone, and
was never known TO associate with
crowds OF jewellers. fact which will
make it difficult for the police to
solve the mystery of his death. He
was not quarrelsome; was a good
workman and an affectionate husband
and father. but the craving for liquor
was his great fault.
Last August a man staggered up TO
Pastor Magoon after one Of the prayer
meetings in the Central NJ r. church.
II was Pritchett.
Elder" he said. 1--WE got TO quit
this liquor. or it will kill me want
you to help me. | want to battle IT,
and | want help" He passed over d
partly filed flask of whisky, and Mr..
Magoon took up the work OF helping
PIftchett
Occasionally the man lapsed. He
was then living on Elizabeth-st.. and
Mr.. Magoon often went to the house,
and sat up all night with PrHchett,
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 OF
the church gave his wife and children
a rent-free home by giving him the
janitor-job He had not touched
liquor for two months, says Mr.. Ma.
goon, was working at his trade every
day, and In addition was faithfully
performing his duties as janitor. His
wife did washing TO help him along,
and things were Frightening up for
the family. when Pritchett was killed
When he left home Saturday even
Ing about o'clock. his little daugh-
ter, Vernetta, who was i'll with colo
crawled MP on his knee and begged
him to stay home and play with her
IN be away only few minutes:
I'm gcirg downtown. but VIII be right
back" said Pritchett. That was the
last that tbev saw OF him.
The couple came here three years
ago from Dayton, o. Mrs. Pritchett
formerly resided here.
She is left in destitute cicum-
stances.