John Canonica |
| Posted 2017-07-30 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Arizona Weekly Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, June 24, 1891, page 3, column 5 John Canonica's Death - John Canonica, the well known wood contractor and charcoal burner, died at his camp, four miles south of town, on Saturday night at half past 10 o'clock, from the effects of strychnine poisoning. The body was brought into town yesterday and an inquest held over the remains at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon by Justice Andrews, and a jury of impaneled for the purpose. As the rumors afloat during the day indicated a possibility of foul play, District Attorney Brown was present, but he failed to elicit any testimony indicating any think of the kind. The testimony was to the effect that deceased had taken the strychnine in the morning about 8 o'clock. That he had remarked to those present that he had taken the dose, and it was the easiest way to get rid of his troubles. Later in the day he stated that he had taken the poison through mistake, having mixed the strychnine in a coffee cup to poison squirrels with and, forgetting it, had partaken of it in his coffee. The jury, after hearing all the evidence, returned a verdict of suicide, with two exceptions, Joseph Melvin and F. Taffney refused to sign their names to the verdict of the majority or to bring in a verdict expressing their own views as to how the deceased came to his death. The verdict was signed by Geo. L. Merritt, J. H. Phillips, Charles Crocker, D. A. D. Smith, Robert Dreynan, C. B. Coulson and William Cooper. Deceased has wood and coal contracts at Whipple, and Thursday had received between $600 and $700 on account of them. He settled up a number of accounts in town with this money and returned to his camp. What motive he had for taking his own life can only be conjectured, the most plausible one thing that it was caused by despondency following a protracted, as he had been drinking heavily for two weeks. He was industrious in his habits except when drinking, and thoroughly honorable and honest in all his transactions. Arrangements have been made for his funeral at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. -------------------------------------- Prescott Morning Courier, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, June 24, 1891, page 4, column 1 Local Intelligence - The remains of John Canonica were yesterday laid away in the citizens' cemetery. |
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