The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-11
THE SUICIDE OF C0LOAEL K.yG.
The New York Hotel Mystery-Verdict of the
Jury-Thc Police Commissioners Indignant
Singular Cnse.

The New York Hotel Mystery-verdict of the
Jury-Thc Police Commissioners Indignant
Singular Case.
In relation to the death OF John King at the New
York Hotel Dr.. Shine denies that he held an inquest
on the body, and says he only took the testimony to
which the witnesses yesterday made oath before
Coroner Flynn.
d. II Hildreth, one OF the proprieors OF the hotel
deposed that prisoner had been drinking to excess
for four or FIVE weeks past but more particularly
for the last four days; deceased and his pur
posed leaving for Arkansas on Thursday morning,
had purchased tickets, and had their bagg age all
packed early for start; subsequently the witness
heard tnat King mad shot himself, and on going TO
the room found MIN dead.
Edward Darke, an oificer attached to the New
York Hotel, deposed that on Thursday evening he
heard scream apparently coming from one OF the
rooms up stairs, When he rushed to the room
occupied by deceased; Kings sister was outside
the door crying out-"My brother, my brother:'
she threw a revolver outside the door; on going
In TO the loom the witness found deceased lying
across the bed dead, he having shot himself through
the head.
| DR.. SHINE examined the body and found pistol
shot wound or the head entering at the right temple
close to the eye; the bal passed through the brain,
SCATTERING the skull; the bail was found lying
beneath the skin on the opposite side OF the head
The case was then submitted to the jury, who
rendered the following verdict
''Tlat John King. the deceased came to HIS death
from pistol shot wound OF the head suicidaiIy
inflicted on the 9th day OF December. 1869. al the
New York HOTEL while laoorlng under temporary
INSANITY
TO the above verdict the jury subscribed their
names us follows, but did not give their respective
places OF abode
X. Rowley, 7. b. BrocKway, J. II. Ennessy, James
Stats, Frederick q. Schmidt Arthur O'Leary
Deceased was thirty-eight years OF age and a ma
tive OF Ireland. In his room q scrap Of paper
was found the following
JOHN KING
Much surprise, and even suspicion, is excited in
the minds o many by the act OF deceaseds sister in
throwing the revolver outside the door as officer
DaTke approached the room IN which the tragedy
occurred. Ii suicide, why the necessity OF thus
disposing Of the implement OF deathf and the ques
ton was repeatedly asked yesterday, "Wny did not
the Coroner take the testimony OF deceaseds sister,
as 1t was necessary and might have been very i'm
portantfn But her evidence was not TAKEN and
hence the Information the lady possessed was not
developed, and may forever remain a secret.
Colonel King had been an inmate Of the New
York Hotel with his sister, Mrs. Duva, about six or
seven months. He was a gentleman well known
and widely connected aad very much esteemed by
his friends. He had OF late been INDUCING quite
freely In drink. He was lawyer OF prominence at
Fort Smith. Ark. IN copartnersnp with his brother
law Mr. Duvall and brought his sister the city
In Ill health. she has since her soJourn here been
under The treat ment and ADVICE OF DR.. Thomas, OF
So Fifth avenue. Tho above are the true facts III this
melancholy case.