Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Dallas Morning News
February 25, 1898

Metcalfe's Sudden Death Ended The Pain in His Throat By Blowing His Brains Out With A Gun

PULLED THE TRIGGER WITH A STICK
Was For Many Years A Hardworking Locomotive Engineer

Denison, Tex., Feb 25 - Today at 11:30 o'clock Will Metcalfe [sic] suicided at his residence his brother-in-law, Jack Smith, on West Bond street, beyond the city limits. The facts obtained by Justice Cutler, who went to the Smith home a few minutes after death to hold an inquest. Facts are as follows:
This morning a little before the suicide, Metcalfe went into the kitchen, where his sister, Mrs. Jack Smith, was about her household duties, and touching a tumor on the side of his throat said, "Sister, this thing is getting worse; it will never get any better. I have given up all hope. It is paining me terribly, and turning he walked to the room he occupied, closing the door and locking it behind him. In a few minutes a the report of a gun was heard, and Mrs. Smith ran to the room. The door was fastened and she had to force an entrance. Some of the neighbors attracted to the scene by the report of the gun and Mrs. Smith's cries, assisted her in forcing an entrance.
In the room, the upper part of the body reclining on a cot, lay the unfortunate man, the cot and his clothing bathed in blood and the top of his head blown away. On the wall behind him were splotches of blood and brains.
Constable Lee French and Justice Cutler, who went to examine the dead body, found that he had used a double-barreled shotgun to end his existence. The gun was loaded with buck shot, and had been placed with the butt on the floor and the muzzle under the dead man's chin, and with the aid of a stick, Metcalfe pushed the trigger and fired the shot.
Metcalfe let no letters or any explanation for any one. He had given no intimation of what he contemplated, except to his sister, Mrs. Smith, a few moments before. He was for a long time in the service of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas and later ran an engine in Mexico on the Mexican Central.tumor started on his neck and grew to suck proportions that was compelled to quit work and leave Mexico. He went north to Chicago for surgical treatment, but was not benefited. He returned to Denison and has since been very despondent. He was a young man, 26 years of age, and unmarried. He was a brother of Louis Metcalfe, an engineer on the Katy road, and well known all over the state among railroad men.