The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-21

A Gentleman Shoots Himself Through tho
Head With . Pistol-Business Troubles tho
Cause.
A most melancholy occurrence, resulting In the
death OF Mr.. John 8. Nichols, took place sr No. 8
LIVINGSTON place about eight O'Clock yesterday
morning During some time past Ar. Nichols, with
wife and daughter, had boarded ct the above num-
Der. but they had made arrangements to take apart
ments In one Of the Fourth avenue hotels For
some months Mr.. Nichols had much trouble in con-
sequence of being unsuccessful In business He
was engaged In the sale Of printing paper
In Park row, but nearly year ago he failed, since
paying employment. After his failure Mr.. Nichols in.
vested money IN patent from which he hoped to
on and his to an
ing extent. He managed, however, to live In very
comfortable style. and through the assistance Of his
not suit OF his independent ideas, and he pre-.
ferred death to living on the generosity OF relatives
During the last three days he had been much
worse tnan usual and kept mis- bed most of the time.
On Sunday, however, Mr.. Nichols arose from his
the drawers Of bureau in his room took therefrom
loaded single barrelled pistol which, without the
g ne %
fently quite comfortable, and seemed TO sleep wen
during tine night, Mrs. Nicnols arose yesterday
took some up stairs to her husband. AS ne was still
In bed she placed the breakfast on the stand, MIR.
Nichols say1nehe wound get up at once.
few moments after leaving his bedroom she
heard noise, as though heavy weight had fallen
from the ceiling to the nOor Mrs. Nichols ente red
the room again. and noticed that her husband
a. though he was In 1T. She took hold OF his hand
and asked him to speak to her, but he made no
reply At that time blood was seen running from
his neck, and the suspicion Of Mrs. Nichols at
once became aroused. Stripping down the bedQuilt
and sheets small sinQle-barrelled pIst0, was dis.
covered clinched in his right hand. The truth in
stanty flashed across the mind OF Mrs. Nichols, who
cried out to her daughter and others In the house
that her husband had shot himself physician was
at once summoned, but no assistance could be rem
dered, and the unfortunate man expired IN few
moments afterwards.
The pillow and nearly all the bedclothes were
completely saturated with blood.
Information OF the tragic occurrence was CON-
municated to Coroner keenan,, VINO subsequently
repaired to the house and held On inquest on the
body, which resulted In developing the foregoing
facts. The jury rendered verdict accordingly.
Mr. Nichols was forty-one years OF age and q
native OF England, but had been In this country
since his boyhood. He has left widow and one
years OF age. Mrs. Nichols states that at
intervals during the last three months her
husband had been in the most deplorabIe state OF
mind, but she had never heard him threaten to take
his own life, and had not tie most remote suspicion
that he anticipated doing so The weapon used by
deceased had been given him by friend some months
ago. In making an examination OF the body Drs.
Wooster Beach and Cushman found that deceased
had placed the muzzle OF the pistol to his right tenn
through the head and lodging IN the skin near the
lett ear. II 10 somewhat remarkable, considering
the nature Of the wound, that death did not result
almost nilstantaneOusly.