http://graveyards.com/IL/Pulaski/cairocity/alba.html (graveyards.com - Copyright 1996-2010 Matt Hucke)
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Friday, 10 Nov 1882:
A SHOCKING AFFAIR
Mr. William Alba Shot and Killed.
The public was startled about noon yesterday by the report that Mr. William Alba, one of our old and highly respected citizens, had committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. A general rush was made for Mr. Alba's residence, on Seventh Street, near Washington Avenue, and there the report was confirmed by the grief-stricken family. The story of the deed is briefly told. Mr. Alba had been confined to his bed since Tuesday night, suffering with pain in the head and fever, to which he had been subject periodically for a number of years. Mrs. Alba had been waiting upon him diligently. At noon yesterday she carried him a plate of soup and found him in his usual state when he was thus prostrated. He had his hand to his head and when asked how he felt, said that he had a fearful pain and fever in his head. Mrs. Alba left him lying in bed and went downstairs to prepare the table for the rest of the family. Shortly after, perhaps half an hour after Mrs. Alba had left her husband, one of the daughters heard a noise upstairs as though a raised window had fallen and called Mrs. Alba's attention to it, who immediately went upstairs again and found her husband lying upon the floor in what seemed to be a fit. She gave the alarm and was soon joined by the rest of the family and several neighbors, who were horrified to find, upon examination, that Mr. Alba, having now ceased his struggle, was dead, and that blood was flowing from a ghastly wound just behind the right ear. A pistol, a four-shooter of the Smith make, which was lying on the floor near by the corpse, gave further explanation of the cause of death, and the shockingly swollen and discolored appearance of the left eye told where the death dealing lead had probably lodged.
When Mrs. Alba entered the room just after the report had been heard, her husband was lying upon the floor, on his left side, with a pillow from his bed under his head. The pistol with which he had destroyed himself was usually kept in a drawer in an adjoining room. It would seem, therefore, that soon after Mrs. Alba left him the first time, Mr. Alba rose from his bed, went after the weapon, took a pillow from his bed and laid it on the floor, and then lying down upon it on his left side, placed the pistol behind his right ear and fired. These circumstances point to deliberation, but it is known that Mr. Alba was not one who would, when in his right mind, deliberately plan and execute so rash a deed. There are other circumstances, which point to an entirely different conclusion, which prove almost conclusively that the deed was perpetrated in a moment of mental aberration. About six years ago Mr. Alba was prostrated by sunstroke and he suffered long and severely before he was again able to be about, and he never did recover entirely. Since then he has been suffering almost continuously with a severe pain in his head, and periodical attacks of dizziness, during which he would be entirely helpless. These attacks would come upon him almost daily and nightly, under all circumstances, and without the least warning. Often, when in his shop, engaged in shaving a customer, he would suddenly drop the razor and grasp frantically at the furniture for support, or fall prostrate to the floor. These attacks and their immediate effects would generally last for several hours, when he would be able to be about again. During the five or six years that Mr. Alba had been afflicted in this way, he consulted many prominent physicians and was almost constantly under medical treatment, but without avail. While under the influence of these attacks, and some time afterwards, his mind would be wandering, he would apparently be in a state of semi consciousness. His prostration since Tuesday was due to another of these attacks, which had been severer than usual and more protracted in its effect. He was convalescent, however and would probably have been in his usual state of mind by today or tomorrow, but for his fearful ending.
Mr. Alba was about 46 years old. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1851 or '52 accompanied by his father and mother. He went to New Orleans thence to St. Louis and came to this city in 1861. He followed the barber's trade ever since his residence here; he labored diligently, rose steadily in the estimation of the public, which patronized him liberally, and was, at the time of his sad death, one of the most prosperous men in his line of business in the city, having a perfect palace of a tonsorial establishment and owning some property in various parts of the city—all the result of his industry and frugality. He was of a social disposition, was on the best of terms with everyone who knew him, and was a member of three or four of our secret and other organizations, notably the Odd Fellows, Masonic Lodge and Rough and Ready Fire Company. He held life insurance policies in two or three of the secret organizations. He leaves a wife, three daughters and one son, to whom he was an exemplary husband and father. The oldest of his children, a daughter, who is in St. Louis, is nineteen or twenty years old, the youngest, twelve or thirteen. Mr. Conrad Alba is deceased's brother and Mrs. Jacob Klee his half-sister.
Mr. Alba's remains will be taken in charge by the secret organization which he belonged and will be interred tomorrow.
Contributor: Kathleen (49820077)
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Friday, 10 Nov 1882:
A SHOCKING AFFAIR
Mr. William Alba Shot and Killed.
The public was startled about noon yesterday by the report that Mr. William Alba, one of our old and highly respected citizens, had committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. A general rush was made for Mr. Alba's residence, on Seventh Street, near Washington Avenue, and there the report was confirmed by the grief-stricken family. The story of the deed is briefly told. Mr. Alba had been confined to his bed since Tuesday night, suffering with pain in the head and fever, to which he had been subject periodically for a number of years. Mrs. Alba had been waiting upon him diligently. At noon yesterday she carried him a plate of soup and found him in his usual state when he was thus prostrated. He had his hand to his head and when asked how he felt, said that he had a fearful pain and fever in his head. Mrs. Alba left him lying in bed and went downstairs to prepare the table for the rest of the family. Shortly after, perhaps half an hour after Mrs. Alba had left her husband, one of the daughters heard a noise upstairs as though a raised window had fallen and called Mrs. Alba's attention to it, who immediately went upstairs again and found her husband lying upon the floor in what seemed to be a fit. She gave the alarm and was soon joined by the rest of the family and several neighbors, who were horrified to find, upon examination, that Mr. Alba, having now ceased his struggle, was dead, and that blood was flowing from a ghastly wound just behind the right ear. A pistol, a four-shooter of the Smith make, which was lying on the floor near by the corpse, gave further explanation of the cause of death, and the shockingly swollen and discolored appearance of the left eye told where the death dealing lead had probably lodged.
When Mrs. Alba entered the room just after the report had been heard, her husband was lying upon the floor, on his left side, with a pillow from his bed under his head. The pistol with which he had destroyed himself was usually kept in a drawer in an adjoining room. It would seem, therefore, that soon after Mrs. Alba left him the first time, Mr. Alba rose from his bed, went after the weapon, took a pillow from his bed and laid it on the floor, and then lying down upon it on his left side, placed the pistol behind his right ear and fired. These circumstances point to deliberation, but it is known that Mr. Alba was not one who would, when in his right mind, deliberately plan and execute so rash a deed. There are other circumstances, which point to an entirely different conclusion, which prove almost conclusively that the deed was perpetrated in a moment of mental aberration. About six years ago Mr. Alba was prostrated by sunstroke and he suffered long and severely before he was again able to be about, and he never did recover entirely. Since then he has been suffering almost continuously with a severe pain in his head, and periodical attacks of dizziness, during which he would be entirely helpless. These attacks would come upon him almost daily and nightly, under all circumstances, and without the least warning. Often, when in his shop, engaged in shaving a customer, he would suddenly drop the razor and grasp frantically at the furniture for support, or fall prostrate to the floor. These attacks and their immediate effects would generally last for several hours, when he would be able to be about again. During the five or six years that Mr. Alba had been afflicted in this way, he consulted many prominent physicians and was almost constantly under medical treatment, but without avail. While under the influence of these attacks, and some time afterwards, his mind would be wandering, he would apparently be in a state of semi consciousness. His prostration since Tuesday was due to another of these attacks, which had been severer than usual and more protracted in its effect. He was convalescent, however and would probably have been in his usual state of mind by today or tomorrow, but for his fearful ending.
Mr. Alba was about 46 years old. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1851 or '52 accompanied by his father and mother. He went to New Orleans thence to St. Louis and came to this city in 1861. He followed the barber's trade ever since his residence here; he labored diligently, rose steadily in the estimation of the public, which patronized him liberally, and was, at the time of his sad death, one of the most prosperous men in his line of business in the city, having a perfect palace of a tonsorial establishment and owning some property in various parts of the city—all the result of his industry and frugality. He was of a social disposition, was on the best of terms with everyone who knew him, and was a member of three or four of our secret and other organizations, notably the Odd Fellows, Masonic Lodge and Rough and Ready Fire Company. He held life insurance policies in two or three of the secret organizations. He leaves a wife, three daughters and one son, to whom he was an exemplary husband and father. The oldest of his children, a daughter, who is in St. Louis, is nineteen or twenty years old, the youngest, twelve or thirteen. Mr. Conrad Alba is deceased's brother and Mrs. Jacob Klee his half-sister.
Mr. Alba's remains will be taken in charge by the secret organization which he belonged and will be interred tomorrow.
Contributor: Kathleen (49820077)
http://graveyards.com/IL/Pulaski/cairocity/alba.html (graveyards.com - Copyright 1996-2010 Matt Hucke)
-------------------------
Friday, 10 Nov 1882:
A SHOCKING AFFAIR
Mr. William Alba Shot and Killed.
The public was startled about noon yesterday by the report that Mr. William Alba, one of our old and highly respected citizens, had committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. A general rush was made for Mr. Alba's residence, on Seventh Street, near Washington Avenue, and there the report was confirmed by the grief-stricken family. The story of the deed is briefly told. Mr. Alba had been confined to his bed since Tuesday night, suffering with pain in the head and fever, to which he had been subject periodically for a number of years. Mrs. Alba had been waiting upon him diligently. At noon yesterday she carried him a plate of soup and found him in his usual state when he was thus prostrated. He had his hand to his head and when asked how he felt, said that he had a fearful pain and fever in his head. Mrs. Alba left him lying in bed and went downstairs to prepare the table for the rest of the family. Shortly after, perhaps half an hour after Mrs. Alba had left her husband, one of the daughters heard a noise upstairs as though a raised window had fallen and called Mrs. Alba's attention to it, who immediately went upstairs again and found her husband lying upon the floor in what seemed to be a fit. She gave the alarm and was soon joined by the rest of the family and several neighbors, who were horrified to find, upon examination, that Mr. Alba, having now ceased his struggle, was dead, and that blood was flowing from a ghastly wound just behind the right ear. A pistol, a four-shooter of the Smith make, which was lying on the floor near by the corpse, gave further explanation of the cause of death, and the shockingly swollen and discolored appearance of the left eye told where the death dealing lead had probably lodged.
When Mrs. Alba entered the room just after the report had been heard, her husband was lying upon the floor, on his left side, with a pillow from his bed under his head. The pistol with which he had destroyed himself was usually kept in a drawer in an adjoining room. It would seem, therefore, that soon after Mrs. Alba left him the first time, Mr. Alba rose from his bed, went after the weapon, took a pillow from his bed and laid it on the floor, and then lying down upon it on his left side, placed the pistol behind his right ear and fired. These circumstances point to deliberation, but it is known that Mr. Alba was not one who would, when in his right mind, deliberately plan and execute so rash a deed. There are other circumstances, which point to an entirely different conclusion, which prove almost conclusively that the deed was perpetrated in a moment of mental aberration. About six years ago Mr. Alba was prostrated by sunstroke and he suffered long and severely before he was again able to be about, and he never did recover entirely. Since then he has been suffering almost continuously with a severe pain in his head, and periodical attacks of dizziness, during which he would be entirely helpless. These attacks would come upon him almost daily and nightly, under all circumstances, and without the least warning. Often, when in his shop, engaged in shaving a customer, he would suddenly drop the razor and grasp frantically at the furniture for support, or fall prostrate to the floor. These attacks and their immediate effects would generally last for several hours, when he would be able to be about again. During the five or six years that Mr. Alba had been afflicted in this way, he consulted many prominent physicians and was almost constantly under medical treatment, but without avail. While under the influence of these attacks, and some time afterwards, his mind would be wandering, he would apparently be in a state of semi consciousness. His prostration since Tuesday was due to another of these attacks, which had been severer than usual and more protracted in its effect. He was convalescent, however and would probably have been in his usual state of mind by today or tomorrow, but for his fearful ending.
Mr. Alba was about 46 years old. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1851 or '52 accompanied by his father and mother. He went to New Orleans thence to St. Louis and came to this city in 1861. He followed the barber's trade ever since his residence here; he labored diligently, rose steadily in the estimation of the public, which patronized him liberally, and was, at the time of his sad death, one of the most prosperous men in his line of business in the city, having a perfect palace of a tonsorial establishment and owning some property in various parts of the city—all the result of his industry and frugality. He was of a social disposition, was on the best of terms with everyone who knew him, and was a member of three or four of our secret and other organizations, notably the Odd Fellows, Masonic Lodge and Rough and Ready Fire Company. He held life insurance policies in two or three of the secret organizations. He leaves a wife, three daughters and one son, to whom he was an exemplary husband and father. The oldest of his children, a daughter, who is in St. Louis, is nineteen or twenty years old, the youngest, twelve or thirteen. Mr. Conrad Alba is deceased's brother and Mrs. Jacob Klee his half-sister.
Mr. Alba's remains will be taken in charge by the secret organization which he belonged and will be interred tomorrow.
Contributor: Kathleen (49820077)
-------------------------
Friday, 10 Nov 1882:
A SHOCKING AFFAIR
Mr. William Alba Shot and Killed.
The public was startled about noon yesterday by the report that Mr. William Alba, one of our old and highly respected citizens, had committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. A general rush was made for Mr. Alba's residence, on Seventh Street, near Washington Avenue, and there the report was confirmed by the grief-stricken family. The story of the deed is briefly told. Mr. Alba had been confined to his bed since Tuesday night, suffering with pain in the head and fever, to which he had been subject periodically for a number of years. Mrs. Alba had been waiting upon him diligently. At noon yesterday she carried him a plate of soup and found him in his usual state when he was thus prostrated. He had his hand to his head and when asked how he felt, said that he had a fearful pain and fever in his head. Mrs. Alba left him lying in bed and went downstairs to prepare the table for the rest of the family. Shortly after, perhaps half an hour after Mrs. Alba had left her husband, one of the daughters heard a noise upstairs as though a raised window had fallen and called Mrs. Alba's attention to it, who immediately went upstairs again and found her husband lying upon the floor in what seemed to be a fit. She gave the alarm and was soon joined by the rest of the family and several neighbors, who were horrified to find, upon examination, that Mr. Alba, having now ceased his struggle, was dead, and that blood was flowing from a ghastly wound just behind the right ear. A pistol, a four-shooter of the Smith make, which was lying on the floor near by the corpse, gave further explanation of the cause of death, and the shockingly swollen and discolored appearance of the left eye told where the death dealing lead had probably lodged.
When Mrs. Alba entered the room just after the report had been heard, her husband was lying upon the floor, on his left side, with a pillow from his bed under his head. The pistol with which he had destroyed himself was usually kept in a drawer in an adjoining room. It would seem, therefore, that soon after Mrs. Alba left him the first time, Mr. Alba rose from his bed, went after the weapon, took a pillow from his bed and laid it on the floor, and then lying down upon it on his left side, placed the pistol behind his right ear and fired. These circumstances point to deliberation, but it is known that Mr. Alba was not one who would, when in his right mind, deliberately plan and execute so rash a deed. There are other circumstances, which point to an entirely different conclusion, which prove almost conclusively that the deed was perpetrated in a moment of mental aberration. About six years ago Mr. Alba was prostrated by sunstroke and he suffered long and severely before he was again able to be about, and he never did recover entirely. Since then he has been suffering almost continuously with a severe pain in his head, and periodical attacks of dizziness, during which he would be entirely helpless. These attacks would come upon him almost daily and nightly, under all circumstances, and without the least warning. Often, when in his shop, engaged in shaving a customer, he would suddenly drop the razor and grasp frantically at the furniture for support, or fall prostrate to the floor. These attacks and their immediate effects would generally last for several hours, when he would be able to be about again. During the five or six years that Mr. Alba had been afflicted in this way, he consulted many prominent physicians and was almost constantly under medical treatment, but without avail. While under the influence of these attacks, and some time afterwards, his mind would be wandering, he would apparently be in a state of semi consciousness. His prostration since Tuesday was due to another of these attacks, which had been severer than usual and more protracted in its effect. He was convalescent, however and would probably have been in his usual state of mind by today or tomorrow, but for his fearful ending.
Mr. Alba was about 46 years old. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1851 or '52 accompanied by his father and mother. He went to New Orleans thence to St. Louis and came to this city in 1861. He followed the barber's trade ever since his residence here; he labored diligently, rose steadily in the estimation of the public, which patronized him liberally, and was, at the time of his sad death, one of the most prosperous men in his line of business in the city, having a perfect palace of a tonsorial establishment and owning some property in various parts of the city—all the result of his industry and frugality. He was of a social disposition, was on the best of terms with everyone who knew him, and was a member of three or four of our secret and other organizations, notably the Odd Fellows, Masonic Lodge and Rough and Ready Fire Company. He held life insurance policies in two or three of the secret organizations. He leaves a wife, three daughters and one son, to whom he was an exemplary husband and father. The oldest of his children, a daughter, who is in St. Louis, is nineteen or twenty years old, the youngest, twelve or thirteen. Mr. Conrad Alba is deceased's brother and Mrs. Jacob Klee his half-sister.
Mr. Alba's remains will be taken in charge by the secret organization which he belonged and will be interred tomorrow.
Contributor: Kathleen (49820077)
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