Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-05
TWO CENTS.
The suicide OF Col. Morrov.


fFrom the San Francisco Bulletin, Nov. 2s.l
Shortly after half-past 6 O'Clock this morning
the inmates of the Occidental hotel we're star
tied by two reports of a pistol In the house, fol-
lowing in quick succession. on iHvestig alton IL
was found that Col. Robert Morrow, pawn aster
in the United States army, had committed sui
side by shooting himself through the head. The
coroner was notified, and an Inquest was held
IN 3 room adjoining the one occupied by the
deceased. Following is the full evidence elici-
ted at
THE INQUEST:
DIR. +. A. Holman testified that between and
6S O'Clock this morning he was called from his
uficer hsd killed himself. He went 90 the room
designated and found man lying on a pillow
At the foot OF the bed, evidently for the conve-
nienCe of reading. as IL brought his head near
the gas Jet. There were books on the he'd
Blood was lowing freely from hts mouth. He
was breathing, but insensible. lie was appar-
emily DYING, and had very faint pulse. He
expired about fifteen minutes after the doctor
entered the room.
Hugh Sinclair testified that he is night
Waterman of the hotel. About fifteen minutes
after SIX O'Clock this morning the office bell
rang for him twice. Was on the third door az
that time. He went to the office and the night
clerk informed ht m that pistol shot had been
hTed OF in the wing above, and he had better
go and see what was the matter. Went TO the
wing and found the door of room No. I53 omen,
There was strong scent of burned powder ia
the hall. The deceased was lying on the bed
holding large revolver in hisright hand. Took
the pistol and placed il on the bureau. The
wounded man was alive, but insensible. His
eyes were closed. Called DIR. Holman and ne
Immediately came down from his room. Heard
two pistol shots in quick succession. The solnd
appeared like heavy plank falling on a floor.
Was on the third floor in another wing of the
building when the shots were fired.
Or. Edwin Bentley, who made an eNamina-
tion OF the body in the presence OF the jury,
testified: He found that a pistol ball al en-
tered the roof OF the mouth on the left side,
passing upward and backward behind the left
eye, lodging in the brain, and frscturing the
base OF the skull Ia its passage, producing
j. l.. Jones testified that he was Intimately
acquainted with the deceased, and saw him
about half past O'Clock last evening. Yester-
day he visited Jones' store, and they went to
IuncnAon rogetner. ne oOmpua....>. - 49,,
Ill. Was in the store several times during the
day. About half past 6 O'Clock in the evening
they went TO the MaisOn Dore TO dinner, where
they remained until O'Clock. He ate a little
soup, and said he felt much better. They then
walked to the corner of Suffer and kearny
streets and separated. He appeared to be in
good spirits. lie was usually in good spirits
when wsn. He complained that he could not
Sleep sOundly at night. When they separated
the deceased said he would 90 20 bed, as he had
slept but little the night before. He has a
mother and sister residing in Tennessee. Know
nothing of any troubles on his mind. He was a
man who drank wine occasionally, but he drank
nothing yesterday. He was 2S years of age, and
a nativeof Tennessee.
Colonel George X. Brady, of the L nlted States
army, testified that the deceased was ma ior
and paymaster In the army and a colonel By
bTevet N the army. Was with him in the hotel
from 10 O'Clock until half-past 10 last evening.
He then started mp stairs, saying that he was
going to bed to get good sleep. He appeared
unusually cheerful. Knew Of no motive or
cause for the act. He purchased book before
gOin TO bed.
The bOOk-Middlemarc on the bed
OF the deceased was shown 10 the witness, aud
he recognized II as similar in appearance to the
enc purchased last evening.
VERDICT.
The jury found the following verdict:-That
the deceased came 10 his death on the 9th day
of November, 1873, at the Occidental Hotel,
from pistol shot in the head, inflicted by hi N
self with suicidal intent. We find that the de
ceased was a native OF Tennessee, and officer in
the United States army, and 2S years of age.
(Signed.) Il. c. Whiting, Frank ". Gross,
James l.. King, W. II. EdmOnds, A. Newman,
J. b. Morton, W. X. Benjamin.
HISTORY OF TIE DECEASED.
Col. MorroT received his commission rs ajo-
in the army IN May, 1sG7 For two years from
that date he served as the private secretary of
President Andrew johnson. At the expiration
of President JOhnsOn's term of Office, Colonel
Morrow was appointed paymaster in the army,
and two years ago was assigned to the Arizona
division. About month since he came 70 this
city from Arizona and settled up his accounts
with government Ii is stated by his friends
that he was recently assigned to duty in this
city. There is curious coincidence in cOnnec-
iion with the suicide OF Col. MORROW. His pre-
decessOr as pSYmaster in Arizona, Col. Dana,
also committed suicide about two years ago by
throwing himself out of a window of a building
on Goat Island. Col. Morrow was a man of
brilliant attachments and agreeable manners,
and possessed spirits of unusual buOvancv. He
leaves a host of friends in this city to depl0re
lis untimely end.