The New York herald., 1872-12-14
A HORRIBLE END.

A Miserable Widower Of s.Better Days
Agone'' Blows His Brains Out In q
Moment OF Wretchedlness and Remorse.
CINCINNATI Dec. II, 1872.
suicide, the attendant circumstances OF which
are OF sensational nature, occurred In this city
about five O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The victim
was an old man, wid0wer, who lived q life OF
almost complete solitude in this city. His name
was Estes Davis. BY occupation he was grocer,
and transacted business on East Fifth street. His
grocery was not very large concern, and his man.
agement oft was so very bad that his ledger ac-
count showed very small margin OF profit at the
end Of each week.
The man was born In New York State over sixty
years ago, and up to about ten years ago was in
affiuent circumstances. He was twice married.
and by his first wife had one child, boy named
Lewis, who is now about nineteen years OF age
Davis second wife died Of cholera In this CITY, in
1866, and ner loss affected him greatly. Since that
event he has carried on the grocery business at
East Fifth street, and it was In the basement Of
this building that he resided Here he has existed
year after year in as abect filth and misery If he
room is about eight feet square, and OF
about the same height 1t Is furnished with bed,
stove, table and bookcase. In this room the man
has spent nearly all his time, generally alone,
during the six long, weary years that have elapsed
since his wife's DEATH Here he has slept and eaten
satisfied the cravings OF his mind with such works
M0ore's poems, for he was OF q literary turn OF
mind and an educated man. Within the last three
years. however, he has become
DISSATISFIED WITH HIS LOT,
Living In filth and enduring privations OF cold,
hunger and sickness, 1t is not wonderful that the
strange spell that seemed to labor over the man
becamed loosened, and he l0nged for an opportu-
nifty OF breaking It's power. But when this rcac-
ton In the mans feelings occurred 1t came too late
to avail him.. He was ragged, dirty, miserabe-an
object Of abhorrence. AZ he himself mournfully
says old friends stunned him and expressed sur
prise upon meeting him that he was not dead.
In his despair he applied for q vacant
Consulshp in the Fiji Islands, and his petition was
signed by some OF the most prominent members OF
was respectable member OF society. The appca-
tion was denied him, and since that occurrence he
has become more morbid and retired in his manner
tnan ever before, and seemed to hate the world.
THE HORRIBLE FINALE.
Yesterday afternoon, at five O'Clock, he was
found by HIS son lying upon the miserable bed in
the basement, his right hand clutchng In death
grip large-bored singlebarreed pistol, and his
brains and life-bl0od forming a pool at his side OF
astonishing size and most shocking appearance.
the charge In the pistol was so heavy that it
actually tore the entire lace and head to pieces,
tile right eye hanging out upon the nose and the
left upper jaw hanging loose, dsj0inted and
bloody, In most sickenng manner upon his
neck. In an old hat lying upon the bookcase the
following papers were found and they sufficiently
explain the reason OF the sucide:-
Life Is longer bcarablc The passing away Of per.
sonal attractions and the various changes that have
Cured all around have isolated all congcnality There
Of real friendship have written To several persons
distance within year two, who were old trends but
why, thought you were dead" and passed along.
have Iico " oeA hoass hns NJ A0Aiys wi prove that