Peick, Cushing "Chris." died 1880

PEICK

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 6/7/2022 at 11:34:44

Elkader Register, Thur., 15 July 1880.

Last Monday morning the residents of Littleport were shocked to learn that Cushing Peick, familiarly known as "Chris." Peick, had ended his life by shooting himself. The first discovery of the sad event was made by the young man's father, Fred Peick, at about 5:30 a.m., when he went to the store, opened it, and not finding Chris. in bed, went into the basement, used as a saloon and cellar, where he found his son stiff and cold in the hands of death, with a revolver lying beside him, and a bullet wound in his right temple, showing how he had met with his death. When found he was sitting in a chair leaned back, near the door leading into the rear cellar.

Coroner Penfield was telegraphed for, and on his arrival an inquest was held, the testimony elicited was substantially as follows:

For some time past Chris. had been noticed to be very reticent and despondent, scarcely speaking to any person. He had also been heard to say that "he had nothing to live for, and had rather be dead and laying by the side of his mother."

The testimony of his step-brother, who occupys a bed in the store with him, was to the effect that Chris had worked late on his books, balancing them up, and then came to bed, only to get up again about ten o'clock, and go down cellar. About 11 o'clock witness was again awakened by Chris coming up stairs, and going to the front show case, taking something from it, which was the last he saw him alive. Witness had gone immediately to sleep again. Heard no shot fired.

The weapon found beside the suicide, was an old rusty, 22-calibre revolver, with two chambers that had been loaded, but one of which had been discharged. On his person was also found a new razor, evidently the weapon he took from the show case when last heard by his step-brother, and which would have been used had the revolver failed.

After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of "suicide by shooting, for which the cause is unknown." Much speculation is rife as to the cause, but the most probable theory is that of hereditary insanity, his mother having drowned herself a number of years ago.

Mr. Peick was about 26 years of age, a steady, sober and industrious young man, liked by all who knew him, and had been successful in business, and his death is regretted by all, and is a severe blow to his aged father.

The funeral of the deceased occurred on Tuesday, Rev. F. W. Seifert officiating, and was attended by a large number of friends and relatives.