OBIT: John L. THOMAS, 1930, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

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

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________


JOHN L. THOMAS

Colonial Guest Ends Own Life
John L. Thomas, Former County Hospital Employe, Sends Bullet into His Brain.

  John L. Thomas, former ward superintendent in the Somerset County Hospital, 
ended his own life by firing a bullet into his brain, Tuesday morning, August 
19, in a guest room of the New Colonial Hotel.
  It was about 3:30 in the morning when Thomas arrived at the hotel, registered 
as a lodger, paid in advance for a room and asked to be placed in a quiet part 
of the building so that his slumbers would not be disturbed.  Accordingly he was 
quartered in a rear hall room where few guests would pass his door.
  About 8:30 he arose, breakfasted and made inquiries about the "checking out" 
time, prior to crossing the street for a shave.  While he was thus engaged his 
room was put in order for the day.  He returned to his room unobserved and 
nothing was known of his rash act until a maid came upon his lifeless body lying 
against a wall of his room, about 2:30 p.m., when she was making her customary 
afternoon check-up of the rooms on her floor.
  His hand still clutched the 32-caliber revolver with which he had spent the 
death bullet into his brain.  Two letters addressed to his wife, who is yet 
employed at the County Home, were found in the room. The contents of these 
missives were not made public.
  Undertaker W. C. Price was notified and he immediately got in touch with 
Coroner H. S. Kimmel, who directed that the body be removed to the Price 
undertaking establishment.  The Coroner came to Meyersdale about 4:30 p.m., 
Tuesday, and rendered a verdict of "death by suicide".
  John L. Thomas was born at Piedmont, W.Va., May 16, 1873.  Nothing is known 
here as to his parents or surviving members of his family if there be any.  He 
was married several years ago to Miss Mary Fisher, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth 
Fisher, of Romania, near Meyersdale.  One child, a boy now about 5 years old, 
was born to the couple, and on account of both parents being employed in the 
County Hospital, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Wiland, formerly of Romania, 
now of Akron, Ohio.
  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Friday morning at the Fisher home at 
Romania.
  Thomas was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Register of Wills and 
Clerk of the Orphans Court, at the primary election in 1927, but not being very 
well known throughout the county, and having such well known competitors as Don 
M. Kimmel, James L. Brant and Adam Berkebile, he received only a small 
percentage of the votes.
  Thomas lost his position in the County Hospital about six months ago.  He 
recently returned from Akron, Ohio, where he made an unsuccessful quest for 
work.  Despondency over unemployment is surmised to have promoted the motive for 
suicide.

Meyersdale Republican, August 21, 1930