Suicide at Keeler's Corner, 1906

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New Jersey Mirror 7 Feb 1906
A shocking suicide occurred at Keeler's Corner, near Pemberton, about seven o'clock Friday morning, when Mrs. Ellis Bird ended her life with her husband's double-barrelled shotgun. Melancholy and seemingly a nervous wreck, Mrs. Bird had been in a bad way mentally for a long time and recently she stated that she did not care to live longer. Early on Friday morning after her husband had left home for the farm on which he is employed the woman secured the shotgun and locked herself in a room away from their three young children. Loading the weapon, Mrs. Bird placed the stock on the floor, leaned with her head against the muzzle and pushed the trigger with a candy cane that had been given to one of the children. Death must have been instantaneous, as a greater part of the top of the unfortunate woman's head was blown off by the large shot contained in the shell. Flesh and blood were scattered about the room and it was a sickening sight to those who made the discovery of the corpse after being attracted to the scene. Coroner William H. Bishop, of Pemberton, was summoned to take charge and make a formal examination of the body. Mrs. Bird's movements and the time selected for the rash act indicate that she had carefully planned her self-destruction. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, interment being made at Springfield.

Location: Pemberton Township, NJ, USA

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