OBIT: Eugene DeBOIS, 1881, Altoona, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

Is it a Suicide?

  The dead body of an unknown man was found in Bald Eagle creek, about 
one mile above Tyrone, yesterday afternoon about 2 o'clock, by some 
parties who were fishing.  A young man who viewed the remains states 
that, though he does not know the dead man's name, he is positive that 
he worked in Smith's jewelry store, in this city, he having learned 
that fact at a boarding house in this city where both took their meals.  
The dead man is described as 5 feet 6 inches in height, weight from 140 
to 150 pounds, and wore a heaving black mustache and sidewhiskers.
  A Coroner's jury was impaneled in the case who rendered a verdict 
that the deceased came to his death by drowning - cause unknown.  The 
body is now in the hands of an undertaker in Tyrone.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, May 24, 1881

The Drowned Jeweler.

  An interview with Mr. Smith, the Eleventh avenue jeweler, yesterday 
by a TRIBUNE reporter, developed the truth of all that our Tyrone 
correspondent states with regard to the drowned man Eugene DeBois.  As 
a probable explanation of his untimely end, and in support of the 
theory of suicide, Mr. Smith states that DeBois, during his occasional 
sprees, would threaten to poison himself, saying on several occasions 
that he "had the poison in his pocket for that purpose."  DeBois was 45 
years of age and left his wife and one child in this city and in 
desperate circumstances on Tuesday, April 26, since which time nothing 
has been heard from him.  Mrs. DeBoise [sic] and child have been 
provided for by her mother, who resides on Fifth avenue between Sixth 
and Seventh streets.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, May 25, 1881

TYRONE TOPICS.

    At a late hour Monday night the dead body of the man that Engineer 
William Blair and son had discovered in the Bald Eagle creek a short 
distance northeast of this place, notice of which appeared in the 
TRIBUNE of the 24th inst., was recognized by Mr. Christ Seger as that 
of a French man named DeBois, a jeweler who had been until within the 
last month in the employ of Samuel Smith, a jeweler, of Altoona.  About 
half past 5 o'clock 'Squire Jones appeared at the scene and empanelled 
a jury, consisting of Messrs. C. S. W. Jones, William Riddle, James A. 
Crawford, Al. Mattern, Caleb Burley and J. B. Cox, who after hearing 
the sworn testimony of Messrs. Blair and son relative to the position 
the body was in (it had been moved across the creek and laid on the 
opposite bank from where it was found before the jury arrived), etc., 
and after carefully examining the body as well as the whereabouts and 
failing to discover any marks of violence or foul play rendered a 
verdict of death by drowning - cause unknown.  The dead man had nothing 
in his possession or about his person that would lead to his 
identification.  He was well-dressed, Irish linen collar, necktie with 
the stamp, "Harris' best, Altoona, Pa.," which was just new, a fine 
pair of custom made, stitched shoes, which facts relieved all suspicion 
of his being a tramp.  His wallet contained not even a penny.  An empty 
wallet and a pocket comb were his personal effects.  Mr. Seger, in an 
interview to-day, said that DeBois had boarded with him in Altoona, and 
was a man of considerable culture, one of the finest workmen in this 
country, a fine scholar and could speak the German and French languages 
fluently.  Mr. Seger's little daughter has a beautiful present made by 
the unfortunate man's own hands.  The poor fellow was addicted to 
strong drink, and it is supposed by many that he had been spreeing and 
spent all his money, and in a fit of mania fell into the water where he 
was found and being totally exhausted and helpless died in that lonely 
out-of-the way place in the Bald Eagle.  It is supposed he was in the 
water from two to three days.  Having been seen standing about the Ward 
House on the Friday preceding in an apparent semi-conscious melancholy 
state.  The water where he drowned was not more than twelve to fifteen 
inches deep.  His remains were interred to-day the 24th in the 
cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, May 25, 1881