Death’s Hand is Following
Sudden End of Geo. W. Pearce of Liberty
Died of heart Disease and the Coroner Held an Inquest –
Another echo of the Famous Lohmiller Tragedy

George W. Pearce one of the oldest and best known farmers of Liberty township, died very suddenly this morning of heart disease. There was no medical attendance and under the circumstances the coroner held an inquest in the case.

The dead man was nearly 80 years of age and had long lived in Adams county. He had been quite hearty and rugged until the last year but in that time had failed perceptibly. He had had some trouble with his heart and had taken counsel with a physician covering his case, but of late had not been using medication or treatment. Before 5 o’clock this morning he was seized with a fainting spell and had great difficulty in catching his breath. A telephone message was hastily sent to Dr. Davidson, at Kingston, summoning him to the house at once, but in the meantime, the patient grew steadily worse and passed away before the physician arrived.

Coroner Thomas was informed over the telephone of the situation and shortly after 8 this morning started to drive to the Pearce residence. There the inquest was held upon his arrival and a verdict of death from normal causes was returned. The coroner is expected back this afternoon.

The dead man is survived by a wife and four sons. One son committed suicide by blowing out his brains in the family home a few weeks ago and another ended his life in a St. Louis hotel about four years since. The family was entangled in the Lohmiller tragedy and for that reason these violent deaths in the Pearce family become more than ordinary coincidences. Lohmiller resided directly across the highway from he Pearce farm and it was to the Pearce home that Lohmiller went right after the murder of his wife.

The deceased was a man of some personal peculiarities, but was generally respected by all who knew him. He owned considerable land. The farm on which he resided contained 160 acres and he also owned a another strip of 160 acres in the section south. He could journey for a straight mile and a half on his own land and his farm was considered one of the best in Liberty Township. It lies in sections 20 and 35 about one mile south of the old post office of Barnard.

Source: Quincy Daily Herald, Tuesday Evening, November 14, 1905