OBITUARIES OF ABLERT PEARCE and GEORGE W. PEARCE, 1905, Adams Co, IL Quincy Daily Herald, 28 Oct 1905 Copied from microfilm in the Quincy Public Library, Quincy, Adams Co, IL Note: There was a black line on the left side. Most of the words could be deciphered but some were in doubt. I have left spaces in these places. MLB The Coroner Investigates Light Shed on Albert Pearce Suicide ing Soldier of Liberty Township Blew Out His Brains, Leaving No Reasonable Motive for the Deed Behind The investigation made by Coroner uns and a jury open the suicide of Albert Pearce of Liberty, threw no light upon a motive and the only explanation made is that the young man had been in rather poor health of late and was inclined to be despondant. Particulars of the death were given. Coroner drove to Liberty yesterday afternoon and held the inquest immediately on his arrival. The body was left as it was discovered until the coroner reached the spot and then at his order was turned over to Edward Kel the Barry undertaker, to be prepared for burial. The coroner's jury was composed of Birch, G. B. Cottrell, F. E. Mel , L. R. Nations, C. H. Clark and L Miller. There were but two witnesses sworn. Phillip J. Pearce, a brother of the deceased, testified that he was standing at the telephone in the house talking to a neighbor when he heard the report of a gun upstairs. He ran to the steps and from the landing he could see into the room occupied by his brother. There was blood all over everything and he was so shocked that he could not enter the room. He knew what had happened and was so prostrated by the sight that he did not investigate further. George Pearce, Sr., the father of the young man testified that his son had been in rather poor health for some time but seemed to be in good spirits rday. He ate a hearty meal at and about an hour later went up to his room. It was only a few moments afterward before the sound of the fatal shot was heard. Coroner Thomas said that he found a barrel breech loading shot gun beside the dead body of Pearce as he entered the room. There was an empty shell in the gun and a loaded lying on the dresser in the room. Recently young Pearce had held the barrel against his right temple with is left hand and with the right has pulled the trigger. The upper part of the head was blown entirely away by the discharge and the walls and ceiling wer splattered with blood and brains. The blood also ran all over the bed and floor until the room resembled a veritable shambles. The suicide left no note or word of any kind behind and had apparently gone to the room with the deliberate intention of ending his life, carring whatever secret there may have been behind the motive to the grave with him. The jury brought in a verdict that ce came to his death by the discharage of a shotgun in his own hand and held with suicidal intent. Albert Pearce was 22 years old. His parents and four brothers survive. George Pearce, Jr., a brother deceased, who was somewhat involved in the Lohmiller tragedy a few years ago, committed suicide in a St Louis hotel three years ago, retiring to his room and turning on the gas. He came home about ago from having spent three years in the heavy artillery service of United States army at Key West. ------------------------------------------------------------ Quincy Daily Herald, Tuesday Evening, November 14, 1905 Death's Hand is Following Sudden End of Geo. W. Pearce of Liberty Died of heart Disease and the Coronger Held an Inquest - Another echo of the Famous Lohmiller Tragedy George W. Pearce one of the oldest and best known farmers of Liberty townsip, died very suddenly this morning of heart disease. There was no medical attendance and under the circumstances the coroner held an inquest in the case. The dead man was nearly 80 years of age and had long lived in Adams county. He had been quite hearty and rugged until the last year but in that time had failed perciptibly. He had had some trouble with his heart and had taken counsel with a physician covering his case, but of late had not been using medication or treatment. Before 5 o'clock this morning he was seized with a fainting spell and had great difficulty in catching his breath. A telephone message was hastily sent to Dr. Davidson, at Kingston, summoning him to the house at once, but in the meantime, the patient grew steadily worse and passed away before the physician arrived. Coroner Thomas was informed over the telephone of the situation and shortly after 8 this morning started to drive to the Pearce residence. There the inquest was held upon his arrival and a verdict of death from normal causes was returned. The coroner is expected back this afternoon. The dead man is survived by a wife and four sons. One son committed suicide by blowing out his brains in the family home a few weeks ago and another ended his life in a St. Louis hotel about four years since. The family was entangled in the Lohmiller tragedy and for that reason these violent deaths in the Pearce family become more than ordinary coincidences. Lohmiller resided directly across the highway from he Pearce farm and it was to the Pearce home that Lohmiller went right after the murder of his wife. The deceased was a man of some personal peculiarities, but was generally respectedby all who knew him. He owned considerable land. The farm on which he resided contained 160 acres and he also owned a another strip of 160 acres in the section south. He could journey for a straight mile and a half on his own land and his farm was considered one of the best in Liberty Township. It lies in sections 20 and 35 about one mile south of the old post office of Barnard.