Greene County GaArchives Obituaries.....Geer, James Frederick, Jr. January 31, 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Samuel Taylor Geer http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00016.html#0003769 October 24, 2011, 9:46 am The Herald-Journal from: The Herald-Journal, Greensboro, GA, Friday, January 31, 1890, p. 1: BY HIS OWN HAND Mr. James F. Geer, Jr. Kills Himself ----------- HOW THE DEED WAS DONE ----------- He Starts to His Father's Home, But Never Reaches It ----------- Particulars of the Suicide ----------- A sad event happened near Penfield on last Sunday. Mr. James F. Geer, Jr., a well known merchant of that place, and a young man well liked by all his neighbors, committed suicide by shooting himself through the neck with a pistol. The news of the affair rapidly flashed over the county, and on all sides expressions of regret were heard at the unfortunate occurrence. the particulars of the sad affair are as follows. For some years Mr. Geer has been in bad health, the result of dyspepsia and has frequently, as is common in persons so afflicted, been subject to fits of melancholy and despondency. Last week he had a severe attack of the disease and for several days suffered greatly. On Sunday morning he told his wife that he believed he would walk out to his father's -- Mr. James F. Geer, sn'rs -- who lives a few miles from Penfield, spend a few days and see if the change would not benefit his health. His loving wife cheerfully consented but insisted that he should ride as the walk might be too much for him. He urged, however, that on the contrary, it would do him good, for his business kept him closely confined. So bidding her good bye and kissing his three children, he started off to his father's. On Sunday afternoon one of Mr. Geer's brothers came to Penfield and dropped in at his house. The first question that his sister-in-law asked was as to how her husband stood the walk and how he was feeling. She was surprised and alarmed when informed that he had not been seen at his father's that day and immediately concluded that he had been taken ill on the road. A party was immediately made up. and started out to find Mr. Geer. It was nearly night then, but they took a near way to the elder Mr. Geer's -- the direction in which [the young Mr. Geer] had gone in the morning -- but they were unable to find a trace of him. After the moon came out they continued the search. A negro man living on a place through which Mr. Geer had to pass stated that about eight o'clock in the morning he had heard a pistol shot off in some pines, but had paid no attention to it. This information created alarm, and the party at once began to scour the woods and fields. About eleven o'clock they came upon him. He was lying off in an old field not far from Fishing creek in a gully, dead! IT WAS SUICIDE! When found he was lying with feet crossed, his head resting upon his left hand and arm, while his right hand firmly grasped a pistol, two balls from which had been discharged. he was cold and evidently had been dead a number of hours. A ghastly wound on the right side of the neck, showed where the deadly ball had entered. From the surrounding circumstances it was clearly a case of suicide. His overcoat was hanging from a limb of one of the pine trees a short distance away; the position of his feet; everything showed the utmost deliberation. It was evident that he had hung the coat upon the tree in order that those who might search for him would have a clue. The ball entered the right side of the neck, completely severing the jugular vein, then ranged up, coming out at the left corner of the mouth. On Monday Coroner Wood summoned a jury and held an inquest when the above facts were brought out. It was further ascertained that he had borrowed the pistol from his partner, Mr. Colclough, giving some cause for needing it. At the time the pistol was handed him one chamber only was empty. The jury found a verdict of suicide, and it was evident that it had been committed deliberately. THE CAUSE OF IT. Only one cause can be assigned for the commission of the rash deed -- and that is despondency and temporary aberration induced by dyspepsia. His business affairs are said to be in excellent condition. with his brother-in- law, Mr. Colclough, he established last fall a merchandise business, and was also appointed postmaster at Penfield. the firm secured an excellent patronage, was prompt in meeting obligations and were making money. So there were no financial troubles to worry him and drive him to death. In his home life he was particularly happy. To his wife he was tender and affectionate and was perfectly devoted to his three lovely and interesting children. He had but recently built him a nice home, for which he promptly paid, and was surrounded with those comforts which make life happy at home. there could be no other cause that that the disease has hastened upon his system as to deprive his reason and drive him to despair. Mr. Geer was between thirty and thirty-five years of age. He was pleasant in his address and had numbers of friends who lament his death. His loving wife is completely prorated with grief, and to her and the fatherless children the tenderest and sincerest sympathies of the people go out, in this hour of sudden and most awful bereavement. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/greene/obits/g/geer10137gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb