Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Aldrich, Arthur 1975
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net October 15, 2014, 3:08 pm

Ionia Sentinel, 29 Jan 1875

Saranac

A Fatal Accident.

On Monday afternoon, at about 5 o’clock as James Aldrich, of South Boston, was
driving past a new dwelling, which is brother Arthur was erecting, he thought he
heard the discharge of a gun; but as some children, who were in his sleigh were
making considerable noise, he was not certain and did not call to examine. 
After waiting some time for his brother to come home to tea, he, thinking that
something might be wrong, proceeded to the house, and on opening the door, his
eyes met the sad sight of his brother’s body lying on the floor, with the blood
flowing from his side.  A physician was summoned from Saranac, and an
investigation showed that the wound was caused by a rifle ball, which had
penetrated the left side, and it is thought entered the heart.  Life was extinct
when he was found.  The deceased was a young man of about 28 years of age,
unmarried, and had always born a good reputation.  He was a member of the
Baptist Church and an Odd Fellow in good standing – a member of the Saranac Lodge.

Some two or three years ago he was afflicted with insanity, and was sent to the
Asylum at Kalamazoo.  But he has shown no symptoms of mental derangement for two
years past.  There are two theories in relation to the affair: one that it was
accidental, and the other that it was suicide.  Justice Vosper was to hold an
inquest over the body on Wednesday, but we have not learned the result.  The
official investigation may throw more light on the matter.

Since writing the above we have learned the facts which were developed before
the Coroner’s jury.  It seems that the gun was borrowed of a neighbor on the day
of the accident, and Mr. Aldrich had run up some balls for the purpose of
hunting the next day.  The gun was placed on the joist overhead upon which no
floor had been laid, and the theory is, which seems quite probable, that,
hearing his brothers sleigh coming, and wishing to ride home, he stepped up on a
sawhorse quickly, and reaching up, took hold of the barrel and drew it down,
muzzle foremost, when the hammer caught on one of the joists, thus discharging
the gun.  The contents took effect in the left side, and passed downward through
the heart, probably killing him instantly.  The funeral will take place on
Friday, under the auspices of the Odd Fellows’ fraternity.


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