YOUNG, George W.

YOUNG, INGERSOLL, HUGHES, PELTON, BEAL, SKAVLEN, STINER, SMYTH, KNOX, NICHOLSON

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 3/23/2006 at 12:25:36

The Cherokee Democrat, December 11, 1895

A BULLET IN HIS HEAD

That is What Caused G.W. Young’s Death

Was it accidental, a suicide or a murder-The Coroner’s Inquest

A Bullet in his head.

“I can’t believe it!” was the exclamation of every citizen of Cherokee when they heard last Sunday that G.W. Young was dead. The report was that he had committed suicide, and it was so astounding that all were loth to believe it. But it was a fact that he was found dead with a bullet through his head.

Sunday morning, Mrs. Young and Mrs. T.S. Ingersoll, who was visiting with her, went to church. Mr. Young, as was his custom, sat in the house and read his papers. F.W. Hughes passed by the house at 10:30 and 11:15. On both occasions he saw Mr. Young sitting at the cast window, a large plate glass one, reading a paper, The curtain was up and gave a good view. About 12 o’clock Mrs. Young and Mrs. Ingersoll returned from church. They noticed that the curtain was down and thought probably Mr. Young was taking his bath. When they went in Mrs. Young saw him sitting in the easy chair, his feet crossed in another one, and the paper on the chair under his feet. She supposed he had fallen asleep. She reached over him and raised the curtain, at the same time speaking to him. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully. When she drew back she discovered the wound in his head and a revolver in his hand. Her screams brought Mrs. Ingersoll to her side and she knew nothing more for a time. Mrs. Ingersoll ran to the Washington Hotel and gave the alarm, and soon people began to flock to the house.

Mr. Young sat in the same position Mr. Hughes had seen him in. The pistol, an old fashioned one that had been in the house a great many years, was in his hand, and his hands lay in his lap. The bullet had entered his head on the right side, well up above his forehead. Just below the left eye there was a black spot, where it was afterwards found the bullet had lodged. Only one chamber in the pistol was empty.

Coroner Pelton was notified and at once arranged for an Inquest. L.W. Beal, H.A. Skavlen and Abe Stiner were summoned as jurors and inquest was begun at R.J. Smyth’s office at 9 o’clock Monday morning, and lasted until evening. A thorough investigation was made, but nothing was elicited that would threw any light on the subject, further than what was to be seen by all. The evidence is given in full below.

(a long testament of what was seen is given. Email me for details)

The verdict of the jury was to the effect that deceased came to his death from the effects of a pistol shot wound, supposed to have been inflicted by his own hand.

Of course there is all sorts of speculation in regard to the affair. A great many people are positive in their own minds that he did not kill himself, or if he did, it was accidental. Mrs. Young is satisfied that he did not do the deed intentionally. She knows of no reason why he should. He had no business troubles of any consequence. They had planned a trip to California and were to start on Friday of this week. Some of their packing had been done. Mrs. Young’s birthday was approaching and he had ordered for her a fine sealskin coat. He had called at Knox and Nicholson’s store a number of times to see if it had arrived being anxious that it should get here before her birthday. All who saw him and talked to him previous to his death know that he was in his usual cheerful mood. Everything went to show that he was the last man in our community to suspect of such a deed.

Directly back of where Mr. Young sat was a book case. The revolver, so far as is known, was lying on this. It is possible that he had taken it down to examine it, and attempted to put I back without getting out of his char. Reaching up over his head to place it on the shelf it was discharged in some way, and his hand dropped back in his lap. If he did the act intentionally it is not likely he would do it in so awkward a way. However it is idle to speculate. Sometime perhaps, the truth may be known. For the present we are with those who are not satisfied that George Young killed himself intentionally.

George Washington Young was born in Candia, New Hampshire, April 16, 1825, seventy years and eight months ago. He lived an eventful and stirring life, varied, interesting and of extensive travel, into which we will not enter in detail, coming to Iowa in the fall of 1875 from Mobile, Alabama, where he had been engaged in large hotel interests. In March, 1876, he entered Cherokee for the first time, where henceforth his name was associated with its best business enterprises and his hotel, which had them its small beginning, became well and favorable known to a large traveling public and the whole northwest. Fortune favored him and he had scores of friends. He had returned from active business pursuits and was enjoying all the comforts of life. The sad and sudden ending of this life leaves many a sorrowful heart among those who have been associated with him for twenty years in this city.

The funeral will take place this morning at 10 o’clock. The remains will be laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery.