ADDISON MACKALL - Obituary

Mackall, Addison R.

The East Liverpool Tribune

July 1898

MACKALL'S SAD END

Two Hunters Among the Hills North of Fredericktown Make a Ghastly Find.

THE ATTORNEY COMMITTED SUICIDE

By Hanging Himself—His Father-in-Law and Brother-in-Law Both Positively Identify the Remains—Mackall Was Missing Since July.

D. L. Gilbert, carrier of the mails between this city ad Fredericktown, brought with him the story of the finding of a suicide's corpse on the Cronin farm, one mile north of Fredericktown.

The two sons of John Black, while hunting among the hills, came across the badly composed body of a man. The corpse lay under a tree, from a branch of which hung a strap, by which the deed had been committed. The head was severed from the body, and lay some distance away. The two boys reported their find to the people of the village and many flocked to see the ghastly sight. It was thought by the villagers to be the body of A. R. Mackall, the attorney of this city, who disappeared last July, and word was at once sent to his father-in-law, J. M. Smith, in this city, and his brother-in-law, L. D. Overlander, of East Palestine. They at once hurried to the scene, joined by James Mackall, a brother of the deceased.

The remains were identified beyond doubt by these gentlemen as those of Mackall.

HIS MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

Mackall had always been successful man, and was reputed to be very wealthy. In 1894 he suffered a severe illness, which affected his mind and caused his removal to Newberg asylum for the insane. In the spring of 1898 he had so improved that he was released, his brother-in-law giving bond for his safety. Mackall, however, was not cured, and in July he suddenly disappeared one night. At the same time a horse was missing from the barn of Mr. Overlander. The horse was afterwards found, but the halter-strap was missing, and nothing more was heard of him. For awhile it was believed he had gone by rail to the home of his sister in Kansas, but he was never again heard fo till his bleaching bones were found among the desolate hills above Fredericktown.

STORY OF HIS LIFE.

Addison R. Mackall was born in 1849, at Achor, Middleton township. He read law in Lisbon, under Hon. J. M. Dickinson, and was passed before the bar, coming to this city in 1876. In 1882 he married Rosa K. Smit, daughter of J. M. Smith, of Fourth street, and from this union resulted one child. The wife and child now reside in Wooster, Ohio.

Mackall was unusually bright and was an able barrister. At one time he had as a law partner, Hon. R. W. Tayler, now congressman from this district.

When the company was organized to build the East Liverpool bridge he was one of the leading spirits. Besides owning considerable realty, he controlled a goodly lot of Pittsburg street railway stock.

The sad news of his terrible ending brings forth expressions of sympathy for his family from the entire community and all who knew him. Mrs. Mackall was notified by wire Wednesday evening, and a funeral will be given all that of our old townsman.