The New York herald., 1871-10-12
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

Young Man Commits Suicide In q Fit or
Dependency.
On Tuesday afternoon, about half past ghrco
O'Clock, the residents or West Fifteth street. be.
tween broadway and Eighth avenue, were csuddenly,
startled by the discharge of pistol, and upon M
qury they learned that Adna G. Underhill. residing
at No. 226 West Fifticth street, had committees
suicide by shooting himself through tVe heart.
Tne unfortunate man thus prcmaturey hurr1edr
into the presence OF his Maker but thlrty three
years Of age, the OF wcll-known grocer doing
business at Eighth avenue and Flitieth street,.
During the war he served as volunteer In the
Union army, seeing considerable service In Vir..
ginia, and at the time contracted a habit
OF indulging 70 excess In the use Of intoxicating
beverages which ultimately led to his taxing has
life while In fit OF despondcncy.
In the morning ms father lett him at the houser
he was nurriediy summoned nome to gaze UPON the
dead body OF his son.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Herman held an In
quest on the body or the uniorsunate man.
ine father OF the deceased, Mr.. Adna II. UnderhI,
was the first witness examined. In reply TO the
the father the deceased for several years past he
has been in the habit or drinking to excess; have
not seen him for some years past until last
spring. when he came home to live, and since that
time he has resided here; finding that his mind
employment would be beneficial for him; gave
him something TO 10 in my store, but his mind was
so unsettled me had TO leave; he worked there some
TWO weeks ior the past two weeks he has not been
away from home to my knowedge / never heard
him thrcaren to commit suicide, although ne nor
himself but on the contrary was extremely despond-
ent; lett the house yesterday (Tue5day) morning
W. was - informed that ne was dead; mad pistol.
which | kept upon the top OF bookcase IN my
room; 1t Is the same pistol winch was found near
Edward D. Berdine was the next witness called.
His testimony was as follows;.i was present 10 tne
down on the,bed to sleep; l reside here; he and I
roomed logesher; my bed was ailolni,ng hts; ! was %
afternoon by the report OF pistol yesterday
Cuesdayl afternoon, when | jumped up l saw
s'01 Ss S9seaa nH them went ana Called the
have known the deceased. Adna q. Underhill since
the spring OF 1857 for the last week, particularly,
have noticed great change In him, and lost my
sleep in The afternoon IN consequence, as ! ies
'V In reply % to question put by the Coroner nquIr
ing why he slept In the afternoon: witness explained
aas ee was & IN nf ne @
noticed that deceased acted In very SHY man. wn,
at times and that he for HIM from
what have seen Of him since ! knew man, man,
dno went O'Clock 70 that my altsrnoon fSn when
IN he was in the room be was walking about sS tne
he ss rst9ns sSsn s
look the same he was consiueMraDS M sn ioss n ,na
after lay we0s %e0n to Sleep did did
hear him come TTr JsUn1 REPORT OF THE PISTOL
sC%s xGSs ms aen qe;s iess 'fS rom m when saw
him ne was resting upon ms ERas asm, avn.
surred up he was on the moor; think ne must
have been sitting upon the SIDE OF tho bed when ne
Gred the fatal shot, and then fell on; when saw
! iim the blood was coming from hts mouth and
Iose the pistol was on the noor by ms .a, side; !
think ne died IN about five minutes after nrst dis-
covered him; think that he went out VI the room
| about ten minutes before went 10 sleep 90 not
| know when he camo back; awoXe ~ haiI'past
4 three r 49,. ,~,oc..
stated to the jury the result OF lne & ex
| had resulted from pistol wound and that the ball
had entered at the heart and lodged In INC stomach;
/ IN his opinion death must have cnsued IN very
| few mlrntes.n Upon tho evidence adduccd the Jury
i iound "tnat the deceased, Adna e. UndcrhNl, came
to his death from pistol shot, inflicted by himself
| while laborng under = temporary III ot aperrauon
| Ql mLnd.N