OBIT: David A. SHAW, 1912, Altoona, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell

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CARPENTER COMMITS SUICIDE AT HOME
David A. Shaw, Brooding Over Fancied Physical Condition, Uses Shot Gun 
in Deed.

  Becoming melancholy over an illness that had confined him to his home 
for several months, David A. Shaw, a carpenter, of 103 Walnut avenue, 
yesterday afternoon, committed suicide. He using a shot gun and death 
was almost instantaneous. It is thought that his brooding affected his 
mind.
  The suicide was committed at 3:18 o'clock. Shaw had gone to the 
cellar at his home shortly before 3 o'clock to secure some apples. He 
gave one to his wife, who was sitting in the kitchen, and ate the 
others. He then went upstairs and in less than ten minutes time the 
household was thrown in a turmoil owing to the report of a shotgun.
  Members of the family rushed upstairs, to find Mr. Shaw sitting on a 
chair, with his head resting on the window sill. The butt of the gun 
was placed on a couch near the window and the load was directed right 
over the heart. The weapon was fired by means of a stick, which was 
lying on the floor. A doctor arrived at the home only two minutes after 
the firing of the gun, but Shaw was dead.
  The charge entered right above the heart and lodged in the chest. 
Coroner W.T. Blackburn was called to the scene, but after an 
investigation, he decided that an inquest was unnecessary.
  Shaw had been a resident of this city practically all his life and he 
had been in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad as a carpenter, at 
Fourth street, under Foreman Thomas Leader, but he has not worked since 
Thanksgiving Day, owing to sickness. He was the son of John and Rebecca 
(deceased) Shaw, and was born in this state on Oct. 16, 1859. He is 
survived by his wife and six children, all of this city.
  The funeral services will be conducted on Saturday morning at 10 
o'clock, when services will be private. The body was given in charge of 
Undertaker George V. Rollins of Seventh avenue.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday, February 9, 1912, p. 16, col. 2