A SUNDAY SUICIDE.
The Result of Domestic Unhappiness—Letters Left by the Deceased—Evidence That the Suicide was Premeditated.
“Good-bye,” were the last words spoken by Frederick Fegley to his wife before killing himself in a tragic manner yesterday in the Heiner’s Springs woods about half-past eleven o’clock. The suicide was rendered unusually appalling and tragic by the fact that the man’s young wife, whom he married only a few months ago, and his own brother were compelled to witness the self-destructing deed, which is supposed to have been caused through domestic infelicity.
Fegley was married in June last to Miss Mary E. Reed, daughter of William Reed, Nineteenth and Cotton streets. The course of their courtship did not run smoothly, and after marriage domestic happiness did not fall to their lot. Miss Reed was only a little over 14 years old when they were married, and from the evidence given before the Coroner yesterday it would seem that she married unwillingly and possibly out of fear, because Fegley had threatened several times that unless she consented to be his wife he would end his life. After the marriage they lived at the home of the girl’s parents for some time, but this did not seem to be agreeable to Fegley, and he left their home and took boarding with his brother-in-law, Henry Zuber, 1824 Cotton street. Subsequently he rented two rooms in the lower section of the city, bought furniture and asked his wife to go to housekeeping with him. The mother objected to her daughter’s leaving, but told the husband that if Mr. Reed, who was in Philadelphia, would give his consent when he returned home she would yield.
Yesterday Fegley spent the morning hours in company with some friends, and about the time above mentioned went to the home of his wife for her final answer. She again told him to be patient until her father returned home. “If you don’t live with me I’ll do away with myself,” said the husband, and he walked toward the new road which leads up into Heiner’s woods.
HE SHOWS THE REVOLVER.
When about a hundred yards from the house he drew from his pocket the revolver with which he ended his life and held it up toward his wife, who was watching him from the yard where they had been talking. Believing that he intended to carry out his threat and hoping to prevent it his wife ran after him, but he started on a brisk run up the road. Henry, a brother of the suicide, who was near by and saw him run followed by his wife also feared that he had decided upon a rash act and ran after him, but neither of the two caught up to him before he reached a grassy plot under a large tree in the woods. Turning around he faced the terrified wife and brother, put the barrel of the weapon into his mouth, while the brother, who was then only a few feet away, in a frantic shout, begged him to stop. The words came too late to be heeded. As the last one fell from the lips of the excited man the shot resounded through the woods. The wound proved fatal almost instantly. The residents of that portion of the city were greatly excited, and the lead man’s mother and sister were terribly affected by the awful and unexpected news.
Coroner Denhard was sent for, and as soon as he had viewed the body it was removed to the residence of Mr. Zuber and an inquest held. Henry Zuber, Henry Fegley, brother, MRs. Fegley and Mrs. Reed were the witnesses heard, but nothing but the facts already stated were elicited, except that Mrs. Reed said she objected to her daughter going away because she was needed at home, and that both her and Fegley had promised before the marriage that she could remain with them.
Before Fegley left with his wife, after talking to her in the yard, he gave her a letter, which, as well as another found on his person and addressed to his mother, brothers, and sisters, was produced at the inquest. He charges his wife with having deceived him, but did not intend to harm her in any way and hopes to meet her in Heaven. On the back of the envelope were written the words: “To-morrow look on the porch and you will be sad forever.” After due deliberation the jury gave as the verdict, “That the deceased, Frederick Fegley, came to his death on Sunday, September 26th, from a pistol shot wound inflicted by his own hand with suicidal intent.”
That he had fully made up his mind to kill himself is certain, because in the letter to his mother he tells her not to grieve for him, that his body will be found in a few days and that he will be better off dead than living. Besides this evidence of the fact there is still a stronger one. William Y. Lyon had sent Fegley a tax notice a few days ago and on Saturday evening he came to Mr. Lyon’s house and paid it and in the conversation which followed he told Mr. Lyon that he had trouble on account of his wife and added, “Look out for some startling reports.”
The deceased was a son of the late Joseph Fegley, who was killed a few years ago in East Reading by a runaway sleighing team. He was 24 years old, a pipe cutter by occupation, and bore an excellent reputation for sobriefty and industry. Henry, George, Mrs. Henry Zuber and Mrs. Annie Gartner are the surviving brotehrs and sisters.
A watch and chain, a small sum of money and the other person effects which were taken from the pockets of the dead man were given to his wife.
Culled from the September 27, 1886 issue of the Reading Times.
