Children:
Leacartia Delores Gaffney
Sibling(s):
Thomas Gaffney
William H. Gaffney
Sarah Catherine Gaffney
Elizabeth Gaffney
James Gaffney
Frank Gaffney
Joseph Reuben Gaffney
Ann Gaffney
John C. Gaffney
Fred Gaffney
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Notes:
Easton Express, Thursday, May 20, 1920, Page 5
Ill Health Caused Suicide
Philip Gaffney, a World War Veteran, Ends Life With Carbolic Acid
Philip P. Gaffney, a veteran of the late war, committed suicide at 10 o’clock last night at his home, 255 Nesquehoning street, South Side, by drinking an ounce and a half of carbolic acid. The act was committed in a bed room of his home in full view of his wife and four-days’ old daughter. Ill health is given as the cause, members of his family stating today that he had been acting strangley for the past several weeks but at no time did he seem melancholy nor had he made known his intentions until the time selected for the deed. He was thirty years old.
During the war with Germany Gaffney was basly gassed while serving in France, with the Twenty-Eighth Division, of which he was chief horseshoer of the headquarters company. Recently he had been in a highly nervous state and this is thought to have been caused from the effects of the German gas he inhaled while in action. He had served a year in France and took part in some of the major offensives during the latter stages of the war.
When the trouble with Mexico broke out in 1916, young Gaffney enlisted with the Easton City Guards and accompanied them to Mt. Gretna where he was transferred to the Allentown Company of the old Fourth Regiment, as a horsehoer. During that regiment’s stay on the Mexican border, he remained with the Allentown Company and was recalled into service when the Pennsylvania militia was mobilized at Camp Gordon, Ga., for service overseas.
Last night after he had swallowed the poison the screams of his wife attracted the attention of neighbors and they ran into the house to learn the cause of the trouble. Gaffney was carried to the kitchen of his home and Dr. J. J. Condran was summoned but the young man had expired before the arrival of the physician.
He was a blacksmith by occupation and for the past several weeks has been engaged in the second hand iron and steel business. In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by his parents. Mr. and Mrs. John Gaffney, and the following brothers and sisters, Thomas, James, Mrs. Thomas Landon, Frank, Annie and Joseph, all of this city.
Easton Express, Saturday, May 22, 1920, Page 9
Private Gaffney Buried
The funeral of Philip P. Gaffney, a veteran of the late world war, was held at 2:30 this afternoon from his home, 255 Nesquehoning street, Services being conducted by Rev. Walter C. G. Feit, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church. The funeral was a military one, a squad of member of the old Easton City Guard, in which Gaffney enlisted it the time of the Mexican trouble, attending and acting as guard of honor. Member of that organization also served as pallbearers. A salute was ?red over the grave in Hay’s cemetery. |
