OBIT: Ezra M. COX, 1944, of interest in Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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EZRA "Ez" M. COX

Ezra M. Cox Ended His Life in Deeply Tragic Manner
Unfortunate Man Shot Himself During Fit of Despondency Apparently Due to Ill 
Health

  Despondent over his physical condition impaired by an explosion in a coal mine 
about two years ago, and fearing total loss of sight, Ezra M. Cox, 32, a miner, 
married and father of two children, took his own life by shooting, at the 
Ulysses G. Miller home near the south entrance to Union Cemetery.
  Cox's home was in Trans-Meyersdale, near the Fair Grounds.  He was an 
industrious, thrifty man of fine character.  Recently he bought the Saylor Hill 
farm at an executor's sale, and made a cash payment on it, but before he secured 
the title to it, it was resold to a higher bidder, and his money was returned to 
him.  He gave his wife $100 of the refunded sum and had more than $500 cash in 
his pockets when he killed himself.
  Last Sunday afternoon he took his wife and children to the home of his uncle, 
Alex Hersh near Sand Patch, and left them there to spend the afternoon, while he 
returned to his home alone in his car, and about 5 p.m. went to the U. G. Miller 
home.  Mrs. Miller was his aunt and she and her husband had taken Cox when he 
was a young child and brought him up the same as if he had been their own child.
  He was a frequent visitor at the home of his foster parents, after he married 
and established a home of his own.  So when he called there Sunday afternoon, 
his aunt, who was alone in the house at the time thought he had just come on a 
friendly visit as usual.
  He appeared to be despondent, however, as if he was worrying about something 
and did not seem inclined to engage in conversation.  Presently after being 
seated in the Miller living room, he asked if they had a radio.  Mrs. Miller 
said yes, but it was in another room.  She said she would go in and turn it on 
to see if they could get any news or entertainment.
  When she returned to the room where she had left him, he was gone, and she 
supposed he had gone outdoors.  Just after she noticed his absence, her husband, 
who had gone for a walk, returned, and she told him "Ez" had been there, but 
disappeared, while she went to turn on the radio.  Mr. Miller kept two shotguns 
in a corner of the sitting room and noticed that one of them was gone.  He 
guessed that Cox had taken one of them and gone outdoors with it, perhaps to 
shoot at a mark, or possibly a rabbit.
  While Mr. and Mrs. Miller were talking about the disappearance of the man and 
the gun they heard a noise like the sound of a gun, but concluded it was only a 
noise made by the radio in the next room.  However, Mr. Miller went out doors 
looking for Cox but he was nowhere in sight.
  After looking around the grounds Miller started back in the house, and as he 
was passing the stairs leading down to the cellar at the back of the house, he 
saw Cox's body lying at the foot of the stairs, in front of the cellar door, 
which was closed.  He went down to see what happened and discovered that Cox had 
apparently placed the muzzel of the 12-gauge shotgun in his mouth and touched on 
the trigger with his foot, blowing off his head.
  Coroner Dosch and local police were immediately notified.  The coroner, County 
Detective W. P. Dively and Meyersdale Police Officer Brocht made investigations 
and all agreed that it was a plain case of suicide.  It was about 6:15 p.m. when 
the fatal shot is supposed to have been fired.
  Cox's face was badly burned and disfigured by an explosion of powder in the 
mining accident which nearly cost him his life two years ago.  But he recovered 
so that he was able to resume his occupation as a coal miner.  He had lost the 
sight of one eye, however, and it is reported that a doctor told him recently he 
was in danger of losing sight of the other eye.  It is surmised that worrying 
over his health condition and prospect of total blindness caused the despondency 
which impelled him to commit the rash act of self-destruction.
  When he did not return to the Hersh home to take his wife and children to 
their own home, Harrison Hersh took them home, but it was not until about 8 
p.m., that Mrs. Cox learned of her sad bereavement. 
  The unfortunate man is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Miller) Cox, two 
children, 2 and 4 years old, Donna and William; his father, Bernard Cox, 
Somerset; his mother, Mrs. Charles Housel, Keyser, W.Va., and a sister, Mrs. 
Robert Taylor, of Keyser.
  Private funeral services were held at the Konhaus Chapel, at 2 o'clock Tuesday 
afternoon, conducted by Rev. Dr. Dunkelberger, Lutheran pastor.  Interment was 
made in Union Cemetery under direction of Mortician Konhaus.

Meyersdale Republican, November 9, 1944