The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-11-22
ANSON NC COMB
COMMITS SUICIDE
BROWNS SELF IN CREEK WHILE
DESPoNDENT.
Continued Illness and the Fact That
He Had Quit Job as Waterman
Probable Cause.


Last Saturday afternoon, at about
four o'clock, when Master Ty Lacure
was making his way homeward, and
about to cross the railroad bridge,
he glanced downward at the creek
and was startled to see lying face
downward in the water, the body Of
man. Ty changed his mind about
crossing the bridge and returning
down town told of his discovery. A
large crowd soon collected at the
bridge and the body was identified
as that of Anson McComb.
From what we have been able to
learn about the tragedy, it appears
that Mr.. McComb left his home at
about 80 o'clock Sunday afternoon
and it seems probable that he did so
with view of committing the rash
act which he afterward consummat-
ed. 1t has been said that some one
saw him while he was making his
way toward town and noticed that
he did not walk as well as usual and
that he stumbled against telephone
pOlC. HC dPplOaSh W WIG OSo VI
the creek, at the point where the
tragedy took place is down steep
hill, and being lame man, Mr.. Nc
Comb must have had considerable
difficulty in getting down. On reach
ing the creek he laid his hat on one
of the timbers of the bridge, then,
evidently, walked up and down the
ashore little, and finally, getting on
his hands and knees crawled out into
the creek and settled face downward
in the water. The fact that his arms
were bent under his body in pecul-
lar position and that his hands were
clinched upon particles of grass and
sand seems to indicate that this was
what he did. The water at this place
is not more than IA inches deep, so
that the back of the dead mans coat
was above water and at the time the
body was discovered was not even
wet.
Through a more or less prevalent
conception of the law regarding such
ceases, no one ventured to touch the
body, pending notification of JUS
tice of the peace. In the meantime
hard rain storm took place, but
eventually Dep. Sheriff c. L. Best
authorized the removal of the re-
mains, which were taken to one of
the local undertaking rooms. Later
coroner's jury was impanelled by
Justice H. ID. Griswold, which viewed
the remains and rendered a verdict
to the effect that the deceased came
to his death through his own act
and deed.
The causes which led to the trag-
edy were probably grounded in ill
health and melancholia. Mr.. McComb
had been afflicted with crippled
limb since childhood and last sum-
mer, while at work, sustained an ad-
ditional injury to it which incapaci-
tated him for work for some time
and from which he never fully recov-
cred. Beside this his general health
had been poor for several months,
and the sum of his troubles was such
that he evidently concluded to end
them in death. 1t is said that when
he left home he had been engaged
in reading and left his book opened
at a place wherein there was story
of man who committed suicide.
This, if true, may have given point
to resolution which had previously
been taking shape in his mind. That
he had the act in contemplation is
also substantiated by the fact that
he had put on clean under clothing
throughout and had left i'm his room
some of the personal belongings,
which he usually carried. In his
clothes were found his watch, a ten
dollar bill and few other small art
icles. Notwithstanding his infirmi-
ties, Mr.. McComb was an Industrious
man, working generally at hard la
Dor, and that his troubles should
overwhelm him as they did is very
sad. Let us hope that he has found
the peace he sought.
Mr.. McComb was born in Michigan,
Aug. %, 1849, and had resided in
this vicinity for many years. He is
survived by his widow and four chill
dren. Of the latter, Chester, is son
of Mr.. McComb's first wife, now de-
ceased, ard Lloyd, Merritt and Mary
eta are the children of his last mar
riage. He is also survived by two
brothers, one of whom resides in
Lansing and the other in Detroit
Funeral services were held from the
Free Methodist Church, on Wednes-
day, Rev. A. o. Griffin officiating
and the remains were taken to Birch
Pun FOR intarnnant hesida those of