Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1868 — A CHAPTER OF HORRORS [ARTICLE]

A CHAPTER OF HORRORS

aV ICIDE or ÜBOMCE B. WOMB. Ila Blow* Illa Brolna oat wllti a Kavvlver.— Spera l*t loin a aa t* link MaUvea that ProatpteA th* Kaah Act,—Teatlßaowr at the Carontr’a Ingnaat.—Vardict of <ha*Jarr. Day lo son yesterday the people of Rensselaer were sharked by the report that Mr. George B. Work, a fanny living about two and a hnlf miles north of town, had committed suicidjcliy shooting himself through the head with a revolver. Justice E. T. Harding had a jury impanMoned,aodyestciday morning pro-cciah-d to the scene of the tragedy und held an inquest Upon the body, wbi«‘h elicited the following ■>, TESTIMONY: Patrh k Donei.i.y being duly, sworn, stated that “At about one -o’clock on the 10th day of November, ]PGB. 1 w’erft south, toward the brush in the field near the house J nudy belonging to G eorge B. Work. When J came near the brush, about forty rods from the house, I heard a gurgling sound, and I drew near and raw a mau and judged it to be George B. Work, lying on his face. I rail Back and hailed John Baker, HOwon Baker and Samuel Baker; and we all went back and found George B. Work, whose body now lies in view of this Jury, lying on his faoc, with his hands under him, his hat partly on, with a bullet-hole wound in his forehead, and his brains scattered on his face and in his bat. There was a pistol in his right band—it waa a four-barrelled pistol, the same now presented to the Jury—with three barrels load’cd. He was breathing but was not able to move, and there were no inboots outside his pants, black cloth overcoat, dark cloth pants, a light vest and an old wool hat. Harrison Baker went to Rensselaer, and I came and told his sister.” . John Baker’s testimony corroborated the statement of Mr. nonelly as to the manner of finding the body, and the position in which it was lying. Dr. James 11. Txmtgiirtdge biung duly sworn said, “Am a regular Fracticing physician. At 2$ o’clock, M., November 10th, InGO, Dr. Spitler and myself came to George B. Work’s residence, in Maridn township, Jasper county, Indiana. I found the body of George B. Work lying in the grove, about 40 rods from nie house, lie was then dead. Body was lying on left side, inclining towards the face. .There wa* Itmot of blood and brains upon his forehead and face. I then had him removed to the house. I washed his face and forehead and examined him thoroughly about the head. Found a wound in the center of the forehead. It was about onp inch long—geemed torn or ruptured—in the center was a round hole, w hich appeared to have been made by a small bullet. Examined the skull and found the scalp detailed for about one inch around the wound. The skull was fractured around the cavity considerably.— There was the impression of every barrel of a font-barrelled pistol to be seen upon the scalp, as if firmly pressed against the skin. The impression corresponded in size ami ajtpearancts with -the- muzzle-- vfa pistol lying on the ground near The body, and which isnonvjji view of the Jury; I introduced;?probe and found the wouiyl extended downward and backward some

three orfour inches. In my opinion, his death was caused "by a pistol shot, fired while in contact with the scalp. The eyes were very much swollen and black, and the brain was oosing from the nose.— The wound indicated that the powder had burned it, and showed that the pistol must have ,been in direct contact with the surface.” Dk. Daniel SriTputfs "evidence was in corroboration of that given by Dr. Loughridge.. C. D. Stackhouse on the stand. “At about. 4 o’clock P M.*, November, 10’68, I helped strip the body of George B. Work. He had on a black frock coat, a dark vest, cheek shirt, steel mixed pants, a pair of stoga boots, and black socks. He had on his person valuables, that we found, as follows: —Two jureket handkerchiefs and two letters. No sears except on his forehead. Could see the impression of jthe four barrels of a pistol.” VERDICT OF THE .TVRV. “We, the undersigned J urors, bmpannelled and sworn on, the Eleventh day of November, in the year 1868, in’the Township of Marion, County of Jasper, and State of Indiana, by Eldridge T. Harding, a Justice of the Peace in and for said Towr.sjjip (acting Coroner for the time) to enquire and true presentment make in what manner and by whom George B. Work, whose body was found in a dying condition, in said Township of Marion in said County, on the 10th day of November, A. D., 1868, and since dead; caihe to hife death. After hearing the pyidenceand examined the body we do find that the deceased came To his death from a plTot' WTlie hand of the deceased, by his own act and will, and inflicting a wound in and upon'the head of deceased near the right temple, and which the Jqry do find caused thp immediqtedeathof said George B. Work whose body was so found. “Given under our hands and seals at the time and place of said inquisition above mentioned. “Prestley Dunlap, Norman Warner, N. W.’Hopkins, C. A. Jdopkius, Jacob Troxell, (J R. Hough, Wm. H. Rhoads, 0. D. Stackhouse, F. A. Hough, A- L. Snarling.’A. Leopold. Daniel Spitler? ’- „ ’

COMMfeXTfe Mr. Work wns,utiout forty years hf ngo, and unmarried. lu htef yoimgeralnys he had been rather dissipated in his hqbits; und about six or seven years ngo attempted to commit *uicido by shooting himoclf in the head with a shot gun. Of h«to yours he appeared to have reformed, and his many friends who had known him from youth, had strong hopes that his reformation* would prove permanent: He was a man of fair education, had traveled eonsid<*rablc in tho United was well informed oie topics of general interest. It is supposed that pecuniary embarassmeul was ike immediate cause of. his committing the rash act.