OBIT: Thomas ECK, 1896, Lebanon, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Nancy Lorz

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THOMAS ECK'S SAD MISFORTUNE

While Playfully Handling a Revolver It Was Discharged - The Ball Entered His 
Head and He Died Instantly - Did Not Know it Was Loaded.

  Thomas Eck, aged 19 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Menno Eck, of 213 North 
Twelfth street, shot himself in the head by accident.  Death was almost 
instantaneous.
  The Ecks keep a boarding house at the above mentioned place.  They had 
four sons living at home, William, Milton, Weston and Thomas, and one 
daughter, Annie.
  Today being Good Friday the men did not work,, and this morning Thomas, 
who worked at Seidel's Standard boiler works as a boilermaker, accompanied 
by his friend, Edward Lynch, came uptown and Thomas bought a new suit.  They 
returned home together and ate dinner after which they went to their rooms.
  After he had finished dinner William Eck took his revolver and going into 
the back yard fired three shots at sparrows.  Emptying the revolver of the 
useless cartridges in the kitchen he slipped two fresh cartridges into the 
cylinder and laid it on the table.  As he did so his brother, Thomas with 
Edward Lynch and Henry Walls entered the kitchen from the dining room.  
Handing the weapon to Thomas, William said:  
  "Tom, take this up stairs."
  Taking the weapon Thomas waved it above his head saying:  "Now I'll have 
some fun."
  As he uttered the words the weapon was discharged and with a cry he sank 
to the floor.  The bullet had crashed into his brain.
  His terrified companions picked him up and tenderly bore him into the 
sitting room where they laid him on the sofa.  Dr. J. A. Biever was 
hurriedly summoned, but his efforts were useless, as the young man was dead.  
Coroner Peters was notified at once.
  A News reporter called at the home shortly after the accident occurred.  
He found the aged parents almost heart broken.
  The bullet entered the head about an inch and a half above and an inch 
back of the right eye and the face was covered with blood.  The accident 
occurred at 2:15 o'clock.
  Eck has a brother living at Williamsport.

Lebanon Daily News, April 3, 1896