Broken Hearted

Santa Cruz Sentinel, 28, 1888

THROUGH THE HEART
Henry Meyrick, Jr., Meets a Sad End on His Wife's Grave

Constant Brooding Over Her Loss Drives Him to Take His Own Life - The Discovery in the I.O.O.F Cemetery

When Geo. I . Holt, the sexton passed through the I.O.O.F Cemetery shortly after seven o'clock Monday morning, he saw the body of a well dressed young man, attired in a black suit, lying on its left side partly on the grave of the late Mrs. Henry Meyrick, Jr.

A few feet from the young mans head lay a pistol, wet with dew, showing that it had been on the ground for some time. The left hand rested under the chin, and the body lay in an easy position, the knees only slightly bent.

There was not the sign of a struggle of any kind, except a mark on the ground made as if one foot had been drawn across it.

A stiff hat lay on the other side of the grave. Mr. Holt did not recognize the young man as anyone whom he had every known, and it was not before the sexton had called other gentlemen into the cemetery that the remains were recognized as those of Henry Meyrick, Jr., son of Henry Meyrick, of the Exchange & Mart.

The sexton came to town to notify the Coroner, leaving the remains in charge of a man. Later the body was carefully placed in Scott & Ely's wagon, which had been sent to the cemetery for that purpose. As the wagon was coming up Water St. the father of the deceased drove by on his way to his office, little dreaming of the cruel surprise which fate had in store for him, much loss thinking that in the wagon was the body of his only son.

The body was conveyed to Scott & Ely's undertaking parlors, where the body was examined. It was found that the ball had penetrated the heart from the left side, causing death instantly. From appearances the deceased had thrown back his coat,
placed the revolver, which is of the American bull - dog pattern of 38 - caliber- against his heart, and fired the fatal shot.

The news of the unfortunate ending of the young man was not long in being spread about town, and everywhere sympathy and regret was expressed.

What should cause him to commit the rash act was the question which revolved itself in every ones mind.

From those who were acquainted with him it was learned that since his wife's death last June, after a happy married life of but a few months, he had become a changed man, constantly brooding over his misfortune, and at times acting strangely.

For some time after the death of his wife he had been watched for fear that he might do violence to himself. He would go to her grave and spend hours at a time, and he apparently had her memory constantly in his thoughts.

It was on a Sunday that she passed away, and he would frequently remark to a friend that Sunday was always a sad day for him. Here, then was the dreadful ending of a life full of promise, embittered and saddened by the loss of one who been devotedly loved.

The deceased had been in unusually good spriits during Sunday, and appeared to be almost himself again. He had been with Frank H. Stikeman during the greater part of the day, but gave no hint of making away with himself.

In the evening he attended the Episcopal Church, and after the services were over went up Lincoln St. to Pacific Ave, where he purchased some cigars. The last that was seen of him alive was at 9:15 o'clock.

After this hour no one could be found who had seen him. Indications point the fact that he must have gone to the cemetery almost directly from the church. The pistol was purchased of E. C. Abraham last Saturday evening.

The deceased went to see Abraham about some work, and he was about leaving the shop he remarked, As he looked at the revolver, that he guessed he would have to buy one, as he was troubled by eats in his neighborhood. He appeared to be cheerful enough then, showing no signs of mental depression, and did not appear to act strange at all.

He went to H.G Insel's on the same evening, and in a pleasant way asked for a box of Smith & Wesson's 38 - caliber cartridges, and bought them.

On Monday afternoon a Coroner's inquest was held. The jurors were were:
Archer, J.G. Tanner, F.J. Baird, F. Alzina, C.W. Waldron, George Trust and L.L. Fargo. After viewing the remains the jury went to Justice Davenports office, where evidence was heard. The witnesses were G. I Holt, Dr. E.P Vaux, AC Abrahac, HG Insel, F.H. Pikeman, W. Armstrong and Chief Lark.

After listening to the evidence the jury rendered a verdict to the effect that the deased came to his death by his own hand, while in a fit of melancholia. The following is the substance from a letter from Henry Meyrick, St. which was read before the jury:

My son, Henry Meyrick, Jr., left home about 7 P.M. yesterday and was then apparently in his usual spirits, which however have been severely depressed for some months past. Beyond this I am unable to throw any light on his unhappiness. That was the last I saw of him alive.

The deceased was a native of England, aged twenty - three years. He was a surveyor by profession. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Pilot Hose Co. and the Ivy Guild.