New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-15
MELANCHOLY AFFAIR At POUGHKEEP-
SIE.

The most intense excitement prevailed in Pough-
keepsie on Saturday, caused by report which was
spresd abroad in that city that gentleman named
King, newspaper correspondent, who was stopping
st Rutzers Hotel, had committed suicide BY taking
prussic acid This report proved too true, and though
ye have collected all the particulars fIom his anvA
in that city to his death enough yet remains unknown
10 cover the whole affair III my ystey SO deep that the
vail will probably never be removed
ON Friday hight last q gentleman arrived in Pough-
keepsie by the 6I O'Clock train from Albany, and WAS
conveyed in one of the numerous carriages IN waiting
around the depot TO Rutzers Hotel. lie there regis
tered his name as Ernest Montague, Cincinnati
Ohio" Before retiring to his room he converSed
over half al hour with Mr. Rutzer and attracted the
attention Of other gentlemen who present by bis
remarks, which were sensible and spirited. From hs
conversation it appeared that he had visited most Of
our Western cities and perfectly at home on Kan
sas While speaking of the Burnett House at Clncin-
natl Mr. Rutzer remarked that 1t was splendid pece
of architecture; to which Mr.. Montague replied,
"Yes; taking il altogether, consider II one OF the
most magnificent edfces in the United States, and six
teenseventeenths OF that structure is now owned by
the proprietor" fire having been built IN his room
he retired for the night.
AtIi O'Clock on Saturday morning, be having not
yet made his appearance, Mr.. William Rutzer, sup
posing that he bad oversight himself went up TO ms
room to call him. but answer being returned TO his
loud and repeated rsps upon the door, except his hard
breathing, that gentleman became alarmed, ana IN
formed his brother John of the fact, who, in company
with two or three gentlemen rushed up stars ana only
waiting instant at the door OF hs room, 10 colhih
what his brother had already informed hun OF, and
hearing the same loud and apparently painful breath
ing was alarmed and without further ado burs; open
the door, when of those horrible specacles pre-
sented itself to. his gaze-s man struggling IN the aS
sgonies of death, the result of his own hand lie lay
upon the bed; pistol loaded to the muzzie the cap
exploded was in hand upon the bed lay the play
Of Richeeu; vial labeled prussc acid, containing
small quantity Of that most deadly OF poisons, was
within his reach while upon the table was apaper with
small quantity of sugar in il which showed plainly the
marks of a fiuger and thumb, the unfortunate man
having taken it for the purpose Of saturatng 1t with
the deadly acid.
Several letters directed to different persons, also lay
upon the table. DIR. Hills was instantly sent for, who
arrived before he expired but nothing could be DONE
and in few moments he died.
Coroner Uaight notified, and an inquest held the
same evening; but before this concluded, lady
appeared upon the scene and sooner was this fact
known than the excitement to such pitch that in
short time the bar halls and stoop of the hotel
were crowded with persons eager to hear what she
would say when examined by the Coroner.
Before proceeding further We should state that this
LADY entered the barroom Of the Exchange Hotel, in
that city, about G, o'clock Saturday night, and in
.3uiIed of Mr.. Way whether gentleman named hing
vas stopping there and being told that there was
not said that he must be mistaken-that he was stop
ping there as that was the Lesrest hotel to the depot
that he was tall young man about IS years OF age
very good looking, and that he wore light clothes
She was again told that gentlemen of tina. name
or appearance was there and to further satisfy the lady,
the register offered her, but being now convinced
that abe was mistaken she requested Mr. Way to give
her the direction to the different hotels in the city
where she would be likely to find the gentleman. This
was done by the obging bartender when the lady left
the hotel and started up town. but had scarcely passed
out Of the door when Mr.. Eratus Reeves entered and
be having heard the name Of the suicide, and il being
the only that the lady was 10 search Of not an in
slant los. by that gentleman in oyertskng and es-
oong her to the hotel Of Mr. Ruzer where the inquest
wss being held before Coroner HAght.
We should also state that te!egrsphic dispatch
was received from this city about l o'clock by MIR.
Rutzer, directed to j. +. King. This was handed to
the Coroner, and re ed as follows:
e" j. +. KING; / am coming on the 81 train. DO
No. start c. A. s."
CoRoSERs INVESTIGATION.
John III. Rutzer, being duly sworn testified that the
deceased came 20 bis house between evenings
be sked for after entering bis az Enes; Moa
sppcr iu house be ordered fire. pen lax and paper
and retired about "a O'Clock In the evening; did not
again until III O'Clock this morning; inqrd of the
teeper after breakfast this morning mad deceased
t tole that be had no made r sPpcaraace aboa.
eclsck told tsst hs had b-en room
and Locked aud heard sted breshings and
n his demand for sduission; then
soor opco aud found In ooe on physician
sn sent foT immediately decreased d, not speak after
tered The foGpd lser sdofesed the table II
ns loom. with 9TH letters; found bottle labeled pfac
ana loaded pstol the room tie pistol Ay or lis Del
WA TIE cap ekpeded.
henry Goodspeed being sworn, said: i board at
hossl and occupy No. S. se ining thai oecn-
49, seesseej th.rr bet~een the two toonsi re-
r,sS O'Clock lost nights knew tia. No 20 was oeeu
h.ao - nose during the nights aw deceesed 10 be
thought hita although he appeared
4. Di. vss. nuns being sworp, said: called 10 see
-.b ay.nns about III o'clock; found hin Ia bed,
psi.. g. sf 70 person lahorrre under eQpyi The
nequen' ard it su.r; tne br,shing gsspng aud To-
dpa,si a. es,t'nf usssy the purils very maeh
,v'.l -, lltss ~cs- b-sUnirg s.. cold; there Vas
80 Sou er '5e siee Of bed which took 10. sad
tb n4oio yAnc Aeii"; toe vial WAS about half
tneie wss n. envelope iyps on IN. eb,ir beside toe
usSo Which - written "P0bOa- Morphle sad Prus,ie