The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-31
From the Chicago Tribune, sd.

From the Chicago Tribune, 2Jd.l
self-sIauxbter-AR Reporter OF the New
York sum Blows his Brains Oat an
Chicago.
A melancholy suicide, the immediate
cause of which is supposed to have been
mental alteration, superinduced by hab-
itual drunkenness, was committed yes
terday afternoon at the Union House,
corner of South Canal and West Madi-
son streets. The victim was young
man, apparently of quite respectable
connections, and formerly connect
cd with the New York San, in the ca
pacity of reporter. His name, rs regis
tered at the hotel, is Allen 5. Curtis,
the commences of which is proved by
documents found upon his person. He
arrived here by the early morning train
of the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne rail
way on Friday last, and at once took
up his quarters at the Union Hotel.
He was under the influence of liquor
upon his arrival, according to the testi-
mony of the clerk who assigned him ac-
cOmmodations, and appeared to have
been drinking excessively for several
weeks. For few days following his
arrival he drank great deal at the bar
aUIuthtu W tHC nOuStt DuU HC
was refused liquor, when he patronized
saloon near at hand. He had no par
ticular business to transact in Chicago,
"a would seem from conversation had
with him by q number of guests at the
hotel. tn whom lao e.tfu ne was merely
travelling for pleasure, and that, after
seeing few friends here, he expected
to 90 to Niagara Falls. He also stated
hnt lao
ter for the New York Sun.
At about four o'clock yesterday morn
ing he aroused the barkeeper and ask
cd for q drink, and as he seemed very
enervated and nervous it was given to
him. He talked incoherently for few
minutes and asked for more liquor, but
the barkeeper refused him, whercupon
he left the house, and returned ut half
past six o'clock, very uiuch intoxicated.
He was heard to ascend the stairway,
and is supposed to have then entered
his room on the second floor. Between
three and four o'clock yesterday after
noon q servant girl had occasion to en-
ter the room. when to her horror she
found the body of Curtis stretched
across the bed, and lying in pool of
blood. In his right hand he tightly
grasped a revolver, small Smith IL
Wesson patent, which lay extended
across his breast, the muzzle pointing
towards his throat.
1t is surmised that he committed the
rash act while sitting upon the edge of
the bed, his body being in a position
when found which indicated such prob
ability. A bullet wound was found on
the right side of his head just above the
ear. The corpse was not touched until
the Coroner, who was immediately no.
titled, arrived at the scene. of the trag
edy. An inquest was held and the jury
rendered verdict of suicide. A trunk
which belonged to the deceased was
carefully examined, bat nothing was
therein found which led to his positive
Identification. In ;the pockets of his
clothes were found valuable gold
watch and chain, and cards Of invita-
ton to the wedding Of G. b. Outcolt
with Miss l. Augusta Curtis, probably
bis sister, held ut the residence of Mr..
and Mrs. PAUL A. Curtis, No. %, East
Twenty third street, New York city,
June 9th, 1868.
A seal ring taken from finger on his
left hand bore his name on the inside
He was man about - years of age,
was we'll dressed, aud in conversation
with those whose acquaintance he made
at the hotel, displayed rare intelligence
and eonyiviality. The report of the IA
tai shot was not heard by any one in the
house, strange TO say, though a number
Of persons occupied rooms directly OPP
poslte to the room of deceased dnring
the entire afternoon.
The body was given into the charge
of undertaken Jourdan, who placed is |
in a metallic coffin to await the order of
relatives of deceased in New York.