GLEASON, Samuel W.

Prescott Journal Miner, Sunday Morning, Prescott, Arizona Territory Sunday, February 3, 1907, page 1 Blind Man Dies As A Suicide Sightless Samuel Gleason Kills Himself With Razor - Slashed Both Wrists And Leg, Then Bleeds To Death Weary of life lived in eternal darkness, and with a sense of helplessness borne in upon him until life became unbearable, Samuel Gleason, a blind man, some time Friday night, committed suicide in Room 59, at the Scopel Hotel. Gleason's body, stiff in death, was found yesterday morning at 6:45 o'clock, by Day Clerk Walter Brown. The body was lying on the bed face upward, with the legs dangling over the side, great pools of blood, which had formed from the self-inflicted wounds, staining the floor of the room. Gleason had severed the radial artery of his left arm by two slashes across the wrist, and to make certain of bleeding to death, had deeply gashed the femoral artery of his left leg, near the hip. Wednesday night, at the Cliff House, Gleason made a vain attempt to end his life by taking chloral, but was revived by Dr. T. B. Davis. During the past week he often told those intimate with him that he would commit suicide, but after he made the attempt by the cloral route, he is said to have changed his mind and informed his friends that he would not make any further attempts to end his earthly career. Gleason went to the Scopel Hotel about 9 o'clock, Friday night, where he engaged Room 59, and after leaving orders to be called at 6:30 o'clock in the morning, retired. Saturday morning, Walter Brown, the day clerk, rapped on the door of the room, which was locked, and receiving no answer, went down stairs. A few minutes later he returned with a lighted candle, in company with George Mason, and peeping through the broken glass in the door, saw Gleason lying on the bed, apparently dead. the Sheriff's office and Justice of the Peace Charles H. McLane were notified and the room was opened. Gleason was lying on his back, attired in his underclothes. The floor was covered with blood, and a blood stained razor lay folded on the table by the side of his bed. A coroner's jury was impanelled, and after viewing the remains, a verdict of suicide was returned. The condition of the body indicated that life had been extinct for at least eight hours before discovery. The remains were taken by the Ruffner undertaking establishment, from the chapel of which the funeral will take place this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, interment to be had in the Citizen's Cemetery. The suicide was about 50 years of age, and had been a resident of this section for many years. Previous to losing his eyesight in a premature explosion in the United Verde mine in Jerome some eight years ago, he followed the occupation of miner. Since the accident which caused total blindness, he has resided on a small ranch between Prescott and the Four Mile House, with his wife and child, who survive him, where they conducted a small dairy farm, disposing of the milk to customers in this city. He was an honorable, upright and industrious citizen, and a general favorite among his acquaintances, who regret that his state of mind prompted him to commit the rash act that ended his life. It is stated that in addition to his affliction, Gleason, of late, had worried greatly over his domestic affairs. ----------------------------- Prescott Journal Miner, Sunday Morning, Prescott, Arizona Territory Sunday, February 3, 1907, page 5 FUNERAL NOTICE Died, February 2, 1907, Samuel Gleason. Funeral services Sunday at 4 p.m. from the G.C. Ruffner funeral chapel. Interment Citizen’s Cemetery. All friends and acquaintances are invited to attend. ------------------------------- Arizona Republic, Phoenix Arizona Territory Tuesday, February 4, 1907, page 6 Suicide of Samue Gleason Weary of life lived in eternal darkness, and with a sense of helplessness borne in upon him until life became unbearable, Samuel Gleason, a blind man, some time Friday night, committed suicide in Room 59, at the Scopel Hotel. The body was lying on the bed face upward, with the legs dangling over the side, great pools of blood, which had formed from the self- inflicted wounds, staining the floor of the room. Gleason had severed the radial artery of his left arm by two slashes across the wrist, and to make certain of bleeding to death, had deeply gashed the femoral artery of his left leg, near the hip. Gleason was about 50 years of age, and had been a resident of this section for many years. Previous to loosing his eyesight to a premature explosion in the United Verde mine, in Jerome, some eight years ago, he followed the occupation of miner. Since the accident which caused total blindness, he has resided on a small ranch between Prescott and the Four Mile House, with his wife and child, who survive him, where they conducted a small dairy farm, disposing of the milk to customers in this city. Transcriber's note: Mr. Gleason is buried at the Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Az. and there is no headstone marking Mr. Gleason's place of burial.