Source:  Conneat Post-Herald, Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., OH
Dated: April 19, 1898
TOOK HIS LIFE
Did Marshall H. Merrill In The Cemetery This Morning
KISSED HIS WIFE GOODBYE
And A Few Hours Later Brought Home a Corpse.
Temporary Insanity Caused by Sickness Is Assigned as the Cause of the Rash Act.
[From Saturday's Post Herald.]
     This morning at about ten thirty standard time Marshall Merrill, an employe of the Nickel Plate Railroad took his own life by means of a thirty-two caliber revolver, on the west bank of the cemetery.  Mr. Merrill has for some time past been suffering with rheumatism and general debilty and has been laying off and this no doubt is the cause for his rash deed this morning.  At about ten o'clock a little boy named Hallie Mullen, who knew him quite well, met him walking toward the cemetery, and asked him where he was going.  His reply was, "O I am just going for a short walk but may never return."  This frightened the boy who ran home and told his mother what he had heard.  Mrs. Mullen was going over to tell his wife of it but was urged not to, being told that Mr. Merrill was probably joking with the boy.  As Merrill entered the cemetery he was seen by a young man who took particular notice of him because of his walking so slowly with bowed head and seemingly talking to himself.  But a short time after this a shot was heard by some boys who were fishing on the dam below the cemetery.   One of them remarked, "Some one has shot at that rabbit which I scared from the bushes just now."  One of their party, Frank McAllister, left them and as he passed through the cemetery found Merrill lying dead.  He was much frightened and ran at once this his comrades with the news of what he had found.  It quickly spread and soon Marshal McMillan and acting coroner Atwood were on the grounds.  They found Merrill lying with his head toward the bank and blood flowing reely from his right temple where the ball had entered.  His mouth, ears and nostrils were filled with blood.  The revolver was lying near his feet.  It was a thirty two caliber Smith and Wesson, all the chambers being filled except one.  Undertaker Simonds was sent for and the remains were removed to his late home on State street.  Mr. Merrillused to be a brakeman on the Nickel Plate and at one time was assistant night yard master.  He has lately been employed in the yards as switchman.  He leaves a wife and one child to mourn his loss.
     He just returned from a visit to his old home in Perrysville, N. Y., Monday.  Mr. Merrill carried a heavy insurance, having $2,000 in the A. O. U. W., $2,000 in the I. O. O. F., and $1,500 in the O. R. C.  He was also a member of the Masons.  He is spoken of in the highest of terms by his fellow workmen.  For the past two weeks he has been laying off on account of illness, and it is supposed that he became despondent, and in a temporary spasm of insanity committed the rash act.  His wife is the daughter of a prominent resident of New York state, in whose honor the station of "Blaisdall" on the Nickel Plate, was named.
     Merrill's family relations have always been of the most pleasant.  The shock to his wife was an awful one when informed of the appalling deed, for when he left home this morning he seemed unusually happy.  He kissed his wife goodbye and left for down street.  Yesterday he made an engagement with Dr. Cole at his office for nine o'clock this morning but did not keep it.  A little while before the deed was committed Dr. Cole met Merrill on Liberty street near the cemetery.  The latter insisted upon going to the office, but the doctor furnished him with medicine and continued on making his calls.  The revolver from which the fatal shot was fired was recently purchased by the suicide.