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Carrier No. 5's Fatal Shot

Carrier No. 5's Fatal Shot image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
March
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

"Alembert Edwin Keith, carrier No. 5, died March 9, 1895, aged twenty-one years." Such was the sad inscription placed over the window of Carrier No. 5 before the Sunday morning delivery at the A-nn Arbor postoffice. A young life full of promise had been suddenly extinguished about midnight, Saturday night. In obedience to a sudden, blind and despondent impuise he had ended his life with a pistol shot, under the window of the girl with whom he seems to have been completely infatuated. The sad news carne to his friends with a striking suddenness. There had been no previous warnings. Of a cheerful and happy disposition, he had appeared as usual all day day. He had proposed to make some calis the following day with a friend who had taken supper with him. He had attended to his work at the postoffice in the evening as usual, had spoken of his making the Sunday mail collections, March 17, and pleasantly joked when his work was done with one or two of the carriers, stating that he was going to a dance. The iron had not yet entered his heart. The occasion for despondency had not vet arisen. After finishing his work at the postoffice Keith had gone to the home of Miss Lizzie Covert, daughter of Andrew F. Covert, of North Main street, the young lady to whom he had been paying the most marked attentions during the past year, and took her to the Saturday night dance at Granger's academy. While there he had some misunderstanding with her, and they returned to Miss Covert's home shortly after ten o'clock. He went into the house and the girl dismissed him as a suitor. He was told that while he might cali, she would not keep company with him. He asked if her decisión was final. She said that it was. and he replied that then he had nothing more to live for. He went out, mounted his bicycle and went home. No one saw h:m at his home and no one heard him enter or leave. He took off his coat and vest, partially unlaced a shoe, and then, as if actuated by a sudden mad impulse, he threw on his carrier's uniform coat, mounted his bicycle and rode in hot haste back to the Covert residence. A shot rang out in the stillness of the night air. Miss Covert threw up a window ánd looking out saw Kieth lying on the ground, and exclaiming, ';My God! It's Ed!" rushed out to him in her nightgown. Her father dressed and went out and soon the neighborhood was aroused. Kieth was carried into the house and lived about twentyfive minutes. He said nothing to, anyone except to Miss Covert who askeri him what he did it for and he answered, 'For you." He complained of the terrible pain over his heart and the girl reminded hira that he had brought it on himself. He said, "Yes - I did it myself," and soon his eyes were closed in the dreamless sleep. The shot was fired at 11:40 o'clock and he died a few minutes after twelve. He was shot just above the heart in a place where, as Dr. Kapp testified, if the bullet wound had deflected half an inch either way, he would have lived. The weapon used was a thirty-two caliber revolver. Coroner Ball impaneled a jury, viewed the remains and adjourned the inquest until Sunday afternoon. The body was taken to his home, 17 S. Thayer street by his parents, who had been summoned to the sad scène. The coroner's jury consisted of Walter Clark, Samuel Smith, V. J. Lathrop, Henry Schutz, Fred Cleaver and James Hessions. After listening to the testimony of Mr. and Mrs. Covert, Miss Lizzie Covert, Miss Fitzgerald, James Harkins, Officers Collins and Banfield, Dr. John Kapp and Mail Carrier O'Hearn, eliciting the facts much as has just been related, the jury rendered a verdict that Keith had come to his death from a wound from a shot fired by a pistol in his own hand. Mr. Keith was twenty-one years old last Thursday and had served as mail carrier for two years lacking about two weeks. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin A. Keith, and had but one brother, aged thirteen, a younger brother having died about a year ago. He was quiet and unassuming, cheerful and happy. He never complained of the work set before him. And it was greatly to the surprise of the postoffice management, when the carriers' loads were weighed up just before the new application for new carriers, to find that he, the youngest and slightest of the carriers, had been carrying among the heaviest loads. This fact would never have been gleaned from his lips. He had endeared himself to his associates. He had been a good son. And the sympathy of the entire community has gone out to the sorrowing parents. The funeral services will be held this afternoon at the house at four o'clock.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News