“J. K. Raleigh’s Suicide. Despondent Over Long Idleness.” - James K. Raleigh was 49 years old as will be seen by the Pittsburgh Dispatch’s account of his suicide. He came to Linesville in 1868, from Erie where he had been clerk in the treasurer’s office of the Erie & Pittsburgh railroad company when the late W.L. Scott was president, and when J. Frank Allen, now in employ of the company at this place, was in the train dispatcher’s office, at that time, Mr. Raleigh remained station agent of the company here until 1881 when he was given the Meadville agency of the Meadville & Linesville railroad which had been leased to the Pennsylvania Company. He held that position several years, in 1885 going into the mercantile trade at this place, under the firm of Raleigh & Co., in the Bowman building which was burned in the fire of 1891. Previous to his departure from this place, in 189, he was in the grocery trade alone. In moving to Allegheny he acquired a lucrative position in the city offices of the office of the Pittsburgh & Western railroad which he held until the spring of the present year. By the following account it will been he had acquired a position shortly before his death, having been without work for several months. When at work he was considered an accurate railroad man and for his one affliction was more than once in line for high position. He was of extreme nervous temperament, generally in the height of exhilaration, or the extreme of bluest of despondency. Funeral was held at his Allegheny home Sunday and remains conveyed to this place Monday and interred in Linesville cemetery under the direction of Linesville Council, Royal Arcanum, of which he was a $3,000 beneficiary member. He leaves a wife and two children; and mother and two sisters of Brockton, N.Y. From Pittsburgh Dispatch - James K. Raleigh, a clerk 49 years old, living with his wife and children a 105 Taylor avenue, Allegheny, shot himself in the brain, Friday morning, and died in 15 minutes. He was despondent became he had been out of work for six months and had been drinking some. He was formerly employed in the Pittsburgh & Western Railroad offices and lost his place there early in the year. Recently he obtained a clerkship in the office of H.K. Porter & Co., locomotive builders. Last Wednesday his wife said he had a fainting spell. His son, H. Monte Raleigh, said his father had been drinking on that day. At any rate, he had a fall, and hurt his head. He remained at home Thursday. The next morning he said he did not feel well and did not arise. While his wife and family were eating breakfast, they heard a shot up stairs. Mrs. Raleigh and the son hurried up stairs and found the man lying on his bed with a bleeding wound in his right temple. In his right hand he clutched an old pepperbox revolver. Raleigh’s son ran to the store of Kennedy Robb in Palo Alto street and Mr. Robb called Dr. John Crombie, of Montery street. The man died soon after the physician’s arrival. Coroner McDowell held an inquest, the outcome of which was a verdict of suicide. The son said his father had threatened, two or three times, when he was intoxicated, to take his life. The wife, Mrs. Georgia Raleigh, told of her husband’s long idleness and despondency, described his fall of Wednesday and related the circumstances of the suicide. On to page 12! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net