The Detroit times., 1910-01-10
BRAVES DEATH TO
SAVE W0ULD-DE
SUICIDE
Andrew MoGovern Fights Way
Through Gas Fumes To Rescue
Charles A. Pollock, Who Opens
Jets and Lies Down To Die.
Victim, Like Brother Who Took Hs
Life, Driven To Despair By Liquor
and Loss Of Friends.

Following in the footsteps OF his
brother Herman, who took his own life
Aug. "a, by inhaling gas. Charles A.
Pollock, saloonkeeper at No. 4OS Du-
tois-st., made a desperate and almost
successful attempt on his life early
Monday morning, by the same method.
He was saved, H. spectacular fashion.
by Andrew McGovern, former city
fireman, who climbed through q WIN
dow at 2:3O o'clock In the morning.
and after being twice overpowered by
the gas, managed to drag Pollock from
his bed, throw open all OF the WIN
dows and doors, anu then worked for
e. half hour rolling the unconscious
man on the floor. until he had revived
him.
The hand OF death was the cause OF
Herman Pollocks suicide, and also
figured in Charles Pollock's attempt
Drink, too, was feature In both
cases. With Herman. suicide was
preferable to indulgence In drink
when he was crushed by sorrow over
the deaths Of his wife and baby. He
left q 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 the
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, q year and four months
old. He sought liquor for his solace,
and under the continued use OF It, his
mind gave way.
Thursday he disappeared from
home, leaving his wife. Matte, In a
fever OF anxiety. He returned, Sat
urday night. to say that he had been
in Cleveland and Toledo. but that his
mind was a blank as to his move
ments.
His. wife saw him handling q razor
and q revolver, and grew terrorSstrick-
en-. She called in Andrew NcGOvern.
living at No. 81 Watefloo-5t.. for help
In Watching Pollock and taking care
OF the business. rs.s
frrAftefs Pollock's return from his
strange trip, he brooded constantly.
Everyone feared him. His wife left
the house, Sunday, seeking refuge with
relatives. She cautioned McGovern
to be particularly watchful.
McGovern left Pollock at 1 o'clock
Monday morning, to go downtown and
escort telephone operator home. He
returned TO 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 to
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 window at
the side of the house and crawled In.
McGovern had more than Ave years
of service with the fire department.
He was dropped from the rolls after
the Heyn's bazaar fire. because he took
a 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 been 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 Huntst. station for
three policemen, to prevent any fur
ther trouble.
Pollock was much better, Monday
morning, but his wife Is still fearful
of a further attempt on his life.
He will be taken to the home Of a
relative for a few days, and II Is prob
able that his case will be turned over
to the probate court.
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