Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-07-19
SAD TRAGEDY ENDS
USEFUL CAREER Of
POPULAR CITIZEN.
josEPH II. PECK PASSES AWAY,
MouRNED BY HEART5RoKEN
FAMILY AND FRIENDS; ACT
oRiEvEs WHOLE COMMUNITY

Mr.. Joseph II. Peck. former Coun
ty Commissioner. yesterday evening al
o'clock ended his life by shooting
himself with .38-calibre revolver
Without giving anyone an intimation
OF his intention, Mr.. Pack entered q
wood-shed at the rear of his beautiful
home at 633 Idaho street, sat down
upon a pile OF kindlIng. placed the
muzzle of the weapon in his mouth
and sent a bullet crashing through his
brains, emerging at the top of his
head. He died instantly. His finger,
relaxed, was inside OF the guard of the
revolver when the coroner examined
the body.
The shot was heard by Miss Harriet
Peck. the decedents daughter She
rushed TO the wood-shed saw what had
happened. and then rushed TO the
Steele garage. on the corner across the
street, and implored the men there to
run over to the wood-shed, then she
tainted. The news spread quickly and
Justice II. U. Castle, and DR.. c. W.
West and a score OF others were at
the scene within fifteen minutes. The
body was soon removed TO the family
residence
There was no note, no final message
TO his friends and loved ones. Tenn
porary alteration OF mind, following
an attack OF melancholia which had
lasted several days, was evidently the
cause of the sad tragedy. For several
weeks, Mr.. Peck had been unable to
sleep and was consequently nervous
and worried over his condition. His
family and friends were anxious con-
corning his condition, but had no idea
that he might think seriously of self.
destruction. Last Sunday he said to
Wallace Toombs, his son-in-law, who
was with him all day, that ne had lost
80 much sleep and was In such physi-
cal condition that he feared he was
losing his mind. lie even suggested
that Mr.. Toombs should so get the
Sheriff TO take him to a sanitarium,
for, he said, he feared he might have
TO go there soon. Naturally, Mr.
Toombs did not believe that Mr..
Peck's condition involved life or death
and he comforted and cheered him as
best lie could. Mr.. Toombs and all
others who knew of Mr.. Pecks condi.
ton believed that he would recover
his usual health and buoyant spirits
in little while. They were as greatly
shocked as were the family's hosts of
friends, when the sad tragedy oc-
Cured.
About $50 o'clock, Mr.. Peck told
his daughter he was going out for a
walk. He evidently walked as far as
the courthouse. a block west, for a
neighbor met and greeted him in the
street. He replied with his usual
cherry courtesy. He evidently turned
soon and walked east to the Steele
garage. near his home, where he was
a constant and welcome caller, and
there he obtained without asking per.
mission the revolver with which he
ended his life
The decedent Is survived by his
widow and his daughter. Miss Harriet,
who are, Of course, heartbroken and
inconsolable. They have the profound
sympathy of everyone. Miss Harriet
had just returned home from Ogden,
where she was graduated recently
from the convent school of the Sacred
Heart. She was the pride of her faith.
ers heart and they were loving com.
rades. Three other members OF Mr.
Peck's family, his stepchildren, who
were also his nephew and neices. re.
spectiveiy, he having married hio
brothers widow many years ago, were
almost the same to him as II they had
been his own. These are Leon Peck,
formerly deputy constable, In the
Eiko night police service: Mrs. Roy
Jones and Mrs. Wallace Toombs, who
reside In Blko.