Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-16
IN DEPENDENCY
GEORGE BENNETT
SHOOTS HIMSELF
Well Known Furrier Suicides at
His Place Of Business This
Morning.
FOUND BY HIS CLERK
Was Oespondent Because Of Ill-Heaith
and Business Worries-Death
lnsta ntaneous


In sudden At of mental alteration, /
Brought on by business worries and
Ill health, George Bennett, the Rock
leland furrier, about 1870 this morn
ing shot and killed himself at his
place OF business, 1913 Second avenue.
Seating himself in a chair at the rear
OF his store, he pressed q revolver 20
his right temple and pulled the tris.
ger. He died almost instantly. lie
LEFT no note TO explain his act
He was found dead in the chair at
o'clock this morning by Mrs. Margar-
Q; Horner, 11O3 Fourth avenue. a clerk
~ the store. Upon opening the screen
she found the heavy door closed but
not locked and upon entering the
place saw Mr.. Bennett seated in a
chair
FOUND by CLERK.
She called to him asking if he de-
sired the door 70 remain closed. nut
upon receiving no reply. walked back
and thinking he had tainted. seized
his left hand and said, Are you sick,
-'''s A'"Hh'''- men ElahNilE iO"L
she perceived the revolver hanging
loosely from his right hand and saw
the blood oozing from a gaping wound
above his right temple. His coat and
shirt were soaked with blood and al
most swOcning at the sight, Mrs Hor.
ger rushed TO the Holtdorf barber
shop next door and called for assist
auCc II. &. HOltdorf and H. Riegel
rushed into the fur store and saw that
the wounded man was beyond human
aid The body was still warm. The
revolver was a 22-caliber Iver-JOhu-
son with five chambers. four OF which
we're still loaded. But one bullet had
been discharged
INQUEST Is HELD.
Mr. Bennett had not swept out nor
opened his morning mail which was
lying on his opened desk He had
taken off his hat and removed his
glasses. which he had placed on d
table near by. and then seating him
self in the chair, destroyed himself
The body was removed 10 Knox's
undertaking parlors where an inquest
was held az 10 O'Clock The jury re
turned a verdict of death due 10
gunshot wound self inflicted while
respondent.
Mr.. Bennett had been unable TO
sleep OF late and had been in i'll
health. lie had also brooded over the
loss of a son a year ago, and II is
thought that this. coupled with bust
ness worries. caused him 70 commit
tire deed
Yesterday afternoon At o'clock,
Mr. Bennett went TO the Office of DR.
L. Eystcr to consult the physician
REGARDING his health He stated that
be was not feeling very sick but felt
tired all the time and had not been
sleeping we'll He would 20 to bed at
night tired aud awaken in the morn
ing uurosted His sleep had been
broken and he said he would awaken
az or 1 o'clock in the morning and
would be unable to sleep again.
nan BUSINESS " ORRIES.
He thought that his bad feelings
were due To the fact that ne had been
worrying over business affairs for sew
cral weeks lie said II was nothing
serious but a number OF things con
ueCtod with his business. He talked for
- or 20 minutes, in cheerful manuer.
however. GA various subjects In the
course Of th, conversation. the doctor
tried 20 impress upon him the advisable
ity Of taking a vacation Nr Bennett
agreed but said he d'snked the idea
OF going away by himself and that IL
was "a difficult matter for him and his
wife 90 get away at the same time.
Il, finally said he would try and ar
range for a two weeks vacation At
that time. according 10 the testimony
Of the physician. there was nothing
IN his appearance or conduct which
would lead one 20 believe that he was
a. all melancholy or respondent. lie
l,f, In cheerful manner with the re-
mark. Il will be in to see YOU again
within the next five or six days"
TEMPORARILY DERNNGED.
Dr. EystCr further said In my
opinion. sudden mental alteration
led HIM 20 commit the act Mr. Ben
reft was seriously IN about a year
ard a half ago and had never been
the same since. He had been extreme
ly nervous believe that he went
into his store this morning and beCom-
ing suddenly discouraged, killed him
self"
Mr. Bennett had always appeared
cheerful and genial, leading no one