Adams County IL Archives Obituaries.....Pearch, Albert 1905
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Mary Love Berryman marylove@tyler.net May 13, 2001


OBITUARY:  ALBERT PEARCE, 1905, Adams Co, IL

Quincy Daily Herald, 28 Oct 1905

Copied from microfilm in the Quincy Public Library, Quincy, Adams Co, IL

Note:  There was a black line on the left side.  Most of the words could 
be deciphered but some were in doubt.  I have left spaces in these 
places.  MLB

The Coroner Investigates
Light Shed on Albert Pearce Suicide

   ing Soldier of Liberty Township Blew Out His Brains, 
Leaving No Reasonable Motive for the Deed Behind

The investigation made by Coroner   uns and a jury open the suicide 
of Albert Pearce of Liberty, threw no light upon a motive and the only
explanation made is that the  young man had been in rather poor health 
of late and was inclined to be despondant.  Particulars of the death 
were given.  Coroner    drove to Liberty yesterday afternoon and held 
the inquest immediately on his arrival.  The body was left as it was
discovered until the coroner reached the spot and then at his order 
was turned over to Edward Kel     the Barry undertaker, to be prepared
for burial.

The coroner's jury was composed of      Birch, G. B. Cottrell, F. E. 
Mel    , L. R. Nations, C. H. Clark and L    Miller.  There were but 
two witnesses sworn.  Phillip J. Pearce, a brother of the deceased, 
testified that he was standing at the telephone in the house talking 
to a neighbor when he heard the report of a gun upstairs.  He ran to 
the steps and from the landing he could see into the room occupied
by his brother.  There was blood all over everything and he was so
shocked that he could not enter the room.  He knew what had happened
and was so prostrated by the sight that he did not investigate further.

George Pearce, Sr., the father of the young man testified that his 
son had been in rather poor health for some time but seemed to be in
good spirits    rday.  He ate a hearty meal at     and about an hour 
later went up to his room.  It was only a few moments afterward before
the sound of the fatal shot was heard.

Coroner Thomas said that he found a           barrel breech loading
shot gun         beside the dead body of Pearce as he entered the
room.  There was an empty shell in the gun and a loaded      lying
on the dresser in the room.  Recently young Pearce had held the
barrel against his right temple with is left hand and with the right   
has pulled the trigger.

The upper part of the head was blown entirely away by the discharge
and the walls and ceiling wer splattered with blood and brains.  The
blood also ran all over the bed and floor until the room resembled a
veritable shambles.

The suicide left no note or word of any kind behind and had apparently
gone to the room with the deliberate intention of ending his life,
carring whatever secret there may have been behind the motive to
the grave with him.

The jury brought in a verdict that      ce came to his death by the
discharage of a shotgun in his own hand and held with suicidal intent.

Albert Pearce was 22 years old.  His parents and four brothers survive.

George Pearce, Jr., a brother deceased, who was somewhat involved in
the Lohmiller tragedy a few years ago, committed suicide in a St Louis
hotel three years ago, retiring to his room and turning on the gas.
He came home about       ago from having spent three years in the
heavy artillery service of United States army at Key West.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/adams/obits/apearce.txt