Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

For information you'd like to share - Post it here - not for questions
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

ERNEST NIEHAUS

St. Louis


Rudolph Niehaus, of Jaccard’s, has been kept busy lately explaining that he is not dead. It is all on account of the suicide of Ernest Niehaus, who swallowed carbolic acid in a room in the Congress Hotel a couple of weeks ago, and died later at the City Hospital. Ernest Niehaus was employed until a short time before his death in the jewelry repair department of the Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney Dry Goods Co., of which Jaccard’s is a part, and when it was published that Ernest Nichaus, formerly of Jaccard’s, had been found unconscious at the hotel, some received the impression that it was Rudolph Niehaus. The latter, however, was able to establish an alibi, as he was in New York at the time.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 19th March 1919

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

WILLIAM GOLDBLATT

Portland, Oregon


William Goldblatt, owner of the Diamond Shop, who suffered a gunshot wound last Sunday at the Elks Club, will in all probability recover, unless unforeseen complications arise. The police have retired from the investigation as the members of the immediate family have emphatically informed them that the shooting was accidental.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 14th November 1929

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

WILLIAM CROSBY

Germantown, Pennsylvania


The dead body of William Crosby, a traveling watchmaker and salesman, whose home was in Germantown, was found lying on Halliday’s Road, near Narberth, Pa., on July 17th. Crosby was twice shot and then beaten to death. On the ground near him an empty valise, in which he had been carrying a number of valuable watches, told the police that robbery was the motive for the crime. The police are searching for three men who are said to have been seen following the murdered man as he walked along Halliday’s Road toward the spot where the crime was committed. His nose was broken, one of his eyes gouged out, his skull fractured and there were two bullet holes in his body. He was fifty-four years old, and his family, comprising a widow, four daughters and a son, reside in Germantown. At the inquest held by Coroner King, on July 20th, no new fact was brought out, however, and the jury returned a verdict of ‘‘murder at the hands of parties unknown.”

Source: The Keystone - August 1905

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

A.P. CRAFT

Indianapolis


Announcement has been made of a severe accident to Mrs. A. P. Craft, widow of a well known jeweler here and mother of Edward Craft, head of the A. P. Craft Co., ring manufacturers here. Mrs. Craft slipped at her home and fell down a stairway, breaking her jaw and suffering severe strains and bruises. Because of her age the injuries are much more serious than under ordinary circumstances. Mr. Craft died at his home here recently.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 16th May 1923

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

WILLIAM B. HEAD

Denver, Colorado


JEWELER’S SKELETON FOUND

Mystery of Disappearance of William B. Head, Denver Jeweler, Finally Cleared by Finding of Bones, Clothing and Boots on Mountain Side


Denver, Colo., Aug. 12.—Gnawed by wild animals, which scattered the bones over a wide area, the skeleton of William B. Head, an employe of the K. C. Cosley Jewelry Co., of Denver, missing since July 4, 1923, when he became lost in the mountains in the vicinity of St. Mary’s glacier, has been found on the south slope of a peak of the Rocky Mountains near Alice, Colo.

Discovery of the skeleton by George Alexander, Jefferson county rancher, and a companion, who were on an outing in the hills when they stumbled over the remains of Head, ended a two-year search for the missing jeweler.

Identification of the skeleton as that of Head was made by his father, W. C. Head of Mineola, Tex., through a camera, a wrist watch, a key ring, the missing man’s boots, and clothing, all of which were found scattered over the mountain side near the spot where Head died.

The rocky peak on which the skeleton was found is less than two and a half miles from the location near St. Mary’s glacier from which Head started on a lone hike while his companion on the outing, Arthur Osborne of Denver, took a nap.

Searching parties, composed of friends and relatives of the dead jeweler, scoured the section of the hills where the skeleton was found for days after Head’s disappearance, but not so much as a trace of the missing man was found.

The manner in which Head met his death always will remain a mystery. From evidence found on the spot where the skeleton was discovered, Alexander believes that he may have been overcome by altitude and toppled over backward in a faint. It is thought his head crashed against the rocks and his skull was fractured, Exposure to the broiling sun, which beats down on the mountain side in the day time, and the chilling winds, which sweep over it at night, soon brought death.

His body is believed to have been on the hill side throughout the Summer, and to have been covered beneath the snow banks of the Winter of 1923-24. The following Spring when the snows had melted wild animals of the district are believed to have found the bones and to have started to devour them. Parts of the skeleton, badly chewed by animals, were discovered 50 feet from the spot where the boots, camera and clothing of the missing jeweler were found.

Head and Osborne left Denver on the morning of July 4, 1923, for a visit to St. Mary's glacier. They were together during the morning, and in the afternoon Head decided to tramp through the hills while Osborne, tired after a strenuous morning, lay down for a nap. When Head did not return by nightfall Osborne became alarmed and instituted a search for him. It was believed he might have fallen into one of the numerous crevices in the locality. That theory was abandoned when a thorough search of all of them failed to reveal any trace of the Missing man.

A theory of murder was advanced, but it also was discarded when a motive for such an act could not be established. Head had no money or valuables on his person when he left on his fatal hike. Many times after his disappearance, when skeletons were found in the hills, friends of Head were asked to examine them, but identification failed until Alexander made his gruesome find.

Head’s skeleton was taken in charge by Coroner A. D. Fraser of Clear Creek county, who notified the dead man’s father. The latter came to Colorado and positively identified the remains as those of his son. He took the skeleton back to Texas for interment. Head is reported to have been insured for several thousand dollars, all of which goes to his father.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 19th August 1925

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

D.L. REY

Montreal


Evidence is being given this week in the case of D. L. Rey, watchmaker and consul-general for Switzerland, at Montreal, who was shot in the face while standing at the door of his jewelry store at 14 Cadieux St., Dec. 7 last. Mr. Rey is suing the city for $15,000 damages, and the case is being heard before Justice Archibald and a jury. The evidence as far as it has gone showed that several city detectives were running after Vincent Morgan, a notorious crook, who was wanted by the police on a charge of house-breaking and robbery. As the accused ran along Cadieux St. several shots were fired after him; two went through his coat-tails, and it was then that Mr. Rey, who was standing at his door talking to his wife, was shot in the jaw. Mr. Rey occupied the witness stand through one court session. He informed the court that the bullet was still in his face, and that his health had been greatly impaired as a result of the shooting. His business has also materially suffered owing to his long illness. Some of his customers had been under the impression that he had been killed and they had transferred their business elsewhere.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th April 1910

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

HARRY COHAN

New York


Harry Cohan, retired diamond broker, 40 years old, committed suicide last Thursday by jumping from the five-story window of his apartment at 546 Lenox Ave. He had been suffering from locomotor ataxia for several years and had not been engaged in active business for five or six years. The man fell to the basement, a distance of six stories. Dr. Elliot, of the Harlem Hospital, said that death was instantaneous. Mr. Cohan lived with his mother, a sister and two brothers. He was unmarried.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th April 1910

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

CHARLES THEVENET

Newark, New Jersey


Charles Thevenet, an employe of F. A. Schlosstein & Co., 93 Lafayette St., was hit by a baseball near the factory as he was returning from lunch on Friday, and so badly injured that it was necessary to take him home in a cab. The ball struck the bridge of his nose. The boys who were playing ball were employed by another jewelry manufacturing concern in the same building,

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th April 1910

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

ALBERT BARRY

Taunton, Massachusetts


A serious fire occurred, last week, at the factory of the Poole Silver Co., Taunton. It is supposed that Albert Barry, an employee, who was standing near a tank of lacquer, stepped on a match dropped on the floor by a careless workman. There was a sudden flash, and blaze, and then the tank exploded with a roar. Barry was so badly burned above the waist that he will be permanently disfigured. The whole floor of the shop was soon filled with the quickly spreading flames, but the response of the fire department was prompt, and its work effective.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 21st October 1903

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

F. ZIMMERLY

Elgin, Illinois


F. Zimmerly, an old and trusted employe of the Elgin National Watch Co., Elgin, Ill., recently committed suicide by taking poison.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th March 1903

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

J. TAYLOR HARTLEY

Chicago


J. Taylor Hartley, assistant to Charles Spencer, in the jewelry department of the Norris, Alister-Ball Co., suffered a very painful and serious injury on Friday of last week. In crossing State St., at Washington St., he was struck and run over by a truck which turned the corner suddenly and was not seen by him in time to avoid it. He was removed to St. Luke Hospital and a thorough examination revealed several fractures, in addition to many bruises. His leg was broken above the knee and at the hip and the pelvis bone was also fractured, It is not thought that he suffered any serious internal injuries and his physician states that he will be confined to the hospital for about 10 weeks.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th May 1923

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

IRA LINNELL

Boston, Massachusetts


Ira Linnell, electrician for the Smith, Patterson Co., who was struck by a train somewhat over a month ago, losing an arm and being otherwise seriously injured by the shock of the accident, was able to leave the hospital a few days ago and receive the congratulations of many friends on his narrow escape from fatal results.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd May 1911

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

FRANK M. MONTGOMERY

Sandusky, Ohio


Sandusky Jeweler Falls Thirty Feet and Is Seriously Injured While Repairing Tower Clock

Sandusky, O., July 25.—While he was repairing the clock in the courthouse tower Monday, a metal flooring on which he was standing gave way and Frank M. Montgomery, 70, prominent Sandusky jeweler, fell 30 feet. His condition is such that recovery is doubtful. Mr. Montgomery’s right arm was broken and his body was bruised. He lay two hours in the belfry before he was able to attract the attention of pedestrians below.

When a city fireman, who had heard a faint call, reached his side, a few minutes before the courthouse was to be closed for the day, Montgomery was unconscious.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 1st August 1923

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

A. NEWMARK

Lynn, Massachusetts


A. Newmark, a Lynn jeweler, committed suicide last week. He was 62 years of age and had been in Boston in business for several years before going to Lynn. He had been despondent over ill health, He was a widower, leaving several children.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th September 1921

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

WILLIAM N. BAILEY

Malden, Massachusetts


Mrs. Edith L. Bailey, wife of William N. Bailey, a Malden jeweler, ended her life Aug. 29 by inhaling gas. Mr. Bailey found the door of a small room downstairs locked. He called the firemen, who came with a pulmotor and after breaking open the door found the woman on the floor with a gas tube in her mouth. Mrs. Bailey is said to have worried over the education of her husband’s daughter by his first marriage.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th September 1921

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

LAFAYETTE F. McGARY

Louisville, Kentucky


JEWELER FOUND DEAD

L. F. McGary, Louisville, Believed to Have Taken Poison After He Opened His Office


Louisville, Ky., Oct. 3—A draught of cyanide of potassium, which he used in his business as a manufacturing jeweler, was employed as a death potion by Lafayette F. McGary, 34 years old, who ended his life at his place of business on the second floor of the building at 312 W. Jefferson St., shortly before 8 o’clock this morning. The fact that McGary was a suicide was not established until nearly two hours later, when Coroner Roy L. Carter examined the body, first reports having been that McGary was a victim of a heart attack. Relatives said McGary had been in ill health for several months.

McGary apparently mixed the fatal draught several minutes after he opened his place of business, shortly after 7:30 o’clock this morning. His body was discovered lying across his desk in the office in front of his workshop at 8 o'clock. Life had been extinct but a few minutes.

Coroner Carter, examining the body, discovered burns about the mouth. Further investigation revealed that a quantity of cyanide crystals had been pulverized in a glass and dissolved in water. Part of the mixture was still in the glass. The cyanide of potassium is used for etching purposes by jewelers.

McGary’s body was discovered when the persistent ringing of his telephone attracted the attention of George Thomas, an employe of the Kimbrue-Waterman Co., located on the third floor of the same building. Peering down an airshaft going from the roof to the second floor of the building, Thomas looked into McGary’s office and saw him lying with his face downward on his desk and one arm hanging down toward the floor.

Thomas summoned the police and Sergeant Steepleton found McGary apparently had died but a few moments before his arrival.

McGary lived at 1836 Shady Lane. He had been a manufacturing jeweler at 312 W. Jefferson St. for 10 years. He was a Mason. The body was removed to the undertaking establishment of John Maas.

Surviving McGary are his widow, Mrs. Margaret McGary, and two sons, Sherley, 12, and Harry Lee, 6.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th October 1923

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

JAMES ROBINSON

Toronto

James Robinson, jeweler of 454 Queen St. East, whose mind is believed to have been affected, attempted to commit suicide by shooting on Oct. 2. When Miss Pearl Archibald, his assistant in the store, came to work in the morning she heard Robinson groaning in the back room and called in a neighbor. On entering the room they found Robinson with a revolver in his hand bleeding profusely, having shot himself through the right temple. He was promptly removed to the hospital, where little hope is entertained for his recovery. Mr. Robinson is about 58 years of age and has been in poor health for some time, having spent six months in a sanitarium in Toronto about a year ago.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th October 1923

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

E.G. HILTON

Whitewater, Kansas


Whitewater, Kans., Jeweler Killed by a Railroad Train in Oakland

Wichita, Kans., April 10.—E. G. Hilton a jeweler of Whitewater, Kans., a small town near Wichita, was killed by a train near Guthrie, Okla., Saturday night He was arranging to open a jewelry store in Mullhall and boarded the wrong train at Guthrie to go to that place. When he found his mistake, five miles away, he left the train and started to walk back, when he run over.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 17th April 1907

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

D.B. MAIR

Midway, Kentucky


Midway, Woodford Co., Ky., August 11.—D.B. Mair, jeweler, killed. The body was carried away. It is unknown whether robbery or revenge prompted the act.

Source: Atlanta Constitution - 12th August 1874

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59268
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

EDWARD GRIER

Owen Sound, Ontario


Edward Grier, formerly in business in Owen Sound, Ont., in connection with the jewelry manufacturing firm of Grier & Taylor, was drowned last week at Nelson, B.C. The town council of Owen Sound testified to the respect in which he was held by the people of his native place by passing a resolution of condolence and adjourning without the transaction of further business.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th September 1903

Trev.
Post Reply

Return to “Contributors' Notes”