The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-24

Tho Last suicide-A Man Calls His Wife and
Children About Him-shakes Hands With
Them-Blds Them Goodby and Shoots Him
self Through che Head.
Though OF late TWO or three suicides are reported
almost every day, with murders, shooting ana stab
bling ad iottu'n, and with almost every variety OF
accessories, few have occurred which have brought
to light such SAD and touching story that which
hangs about the shooting Of George Au last night in
the tenement house No. II Ludlow street.
year and half ago An. who was then hard
working, sober man, became quite III from malady
OF which, till then, he was entirely gnorant--con-
SUMPTION He applied to different doctors in vain,
and becoming too weak TO do any sort OF work he
grew melancholy, and at last desperate. In these
moods he began occasionally to drink, and often
afterwards he drank to excess. Then he would tell
his wife and trfends that he could no longer
work; that he suffered, and he would take his
own life and rid them OF what was not
only no longer support, out o burden.
The first conversation of this Kind which attracted
any particular attention took place about six months
ago. Three or Jour days ago these complaints and
threats OF suicide were renewed. He had by this
Time grown quite weak ana no hope was entertained
at most
Yesterday afternoon about half-past four O'Clock,
ne called his children from the street, where they
S e sns 's seom where Sn he
sat with his wife, and turning to them he
said II want to bid you good by.
! am very sick and very weak. / suffer
can work no longer, and am only burden to
your mother, who must work very hard to support
you and herself" He then shook hands with each
one tenderly from the eldest of the three, little
girl OF eight years. to the baby only thirteen months
old, and babe them goOdby. His wife endeavOred
to get to the door and give an alarm, still not think
ing there would be an absolute attempt by the hus-
band to Kill himsef but he stopped her. saying:-"I
don't want you TO go OUT; Iwant you TO stay here.
do not want you to call any one from the street
up here l want no one now but my wife
and children" He shook hands with her
as he said this. then turning away to the door OF
the closet, few feet from where she stood, he
ltberateiy placed the muzze to his forehead and
fired. He fell back in the closet instantly killed.
The ball passed clean through his head. The wife
ran out and notified her sisters family on the floor
below, and theytnotifed the police. In the mean
time, with the assistance Of ne1ghb0r, the
body was dragged out from the closet to
the centre of the floor. There 1t lay alone
last night when at late hour HERALD
reporter visited the scene. II was ghastly
sight. He was lighthaired blue-eyed man, slen-
der and about five feet eight inches In height, wore
mustacne and chin whiskers. and Is fOrty-nine
years or age He is dressed only in gray mixed
pants with white shirt, the latter covered with
gore. The blood had been washed from his face
and only on his forehead, where a great blue swell
ling marked the spot where the bullet entered, was
there any marks OF the manner In which he met his
death. The pistol with which the deed was CON-
mtted was loaded in each barrel, and contains the
remaining OF five bullets now