Tuesday, November 22, 2011

John McManigle - Who are You?


Thanks to Elizabeth O’Neal from Little Bytes of Life’s Blog:  “Tuesday’s Tip:  Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection, I found the following newspaper article.  I have a John McManigle that has gone missing after the 1860 US Federal Census Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.  Not Illinois and my John did not have twelve children, but would still like to know who this John McManigle was. . .

Suicide
          Last Saurday morning about one o’clock Mr. Fank P. Warner of Rosita having been detained at Silver Clift until that hour, went to Peck’s livery stable accompanied Mr. A. H. Lacey and ordered a team to bring him home.
          Charley Goodwin who was in charge of the stable went to the shed stable in the rear, for the horses and soon came back his face pale and voice trembling and called Messers Warner and Lacey to come out, and when at the door of the shed he pointed in and asked “What do you think of that?”
          By the light of the lantern they saw a man hanging in a vacant stall directly in front of the door.  After the first surprise was over they ascertained that the man was dead beyond peradventure and immediately sent for Coroner Roberts, who woon came and ordered the body taken down and cared for.  An inquest was held that day and a verdict of premeditated suicide rendered.
          The unfortunate, weary life, was John McManigle, who has been in the county about three years.  He came from Neoga, Cumberland county, Ill., where he left a wife, and somewhere in the east has twelve children, all grown.
          The deceased was about 70 years old, and for years has indulged freely in the flowing bowl.  He had been on a spree for several days and his money being all gone, he could get no more “booze,” was down hearted, and decided that life was not worth the living, and – the end.
          The body showed that the deceased had strong will power, as his head was about eighteen inches from the cross piece above and feet only about the same distance from the ground.  He must have climbed upon the sides of the stall, adjusted the rope, stepped off and slowly strangled to death, but his hands hung by his side and there was not evidence of even involuntary effort to relieve himself.
Sierra Journal (Rosita, Custer County)
Thursday, March 18, 1886
Page: 3