The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-28
THE MINISTRATION OF THE DEADLY
SWAMP ANGEL.

AND FURNISHES AN ITEM NOT ON THE BILL
OF FARE.
The Sentinel reported by telegraph the
suicide of w. T. Hooper at the supper table
of Nashville restaurant, but the case is
such novel one that its full particulars
from the American are furnished: The sharp
report of pistol startled the people in and
near Hemphill & Co.'S restaurant at about
7:30 O'Clock last night. Almost the same
instant w. T. Hooper, who had been seated
at a table, fell from his chair a corpse, blood
and brains alike gushing from a CHASTITY
wound in his right temple. A bullet of large
size had been'sent rushing through his skul.
from the chamber of a revolver COM
monty known as the 'Swsmp Angel" held
in Hooper's own right hand. Death was
instantaneous, and the fall of the pistol
preceded that of the body, and the oil-cloth
beneath was soon covered with largs pool
OF gore. Blood had spsttered upon the
table cloth, and even into the temptingly-
served oysters which had not yet been
touched. friend whom Hooper had in
vited to supper sprang to bis feet, shocked
beyond expression at the suddenness and
awful nature of the deed. When the others
in the room recovered their presence Of
mind, they
LIFTED UP THE LIFELEss FORM
and conveyed it from out of the glare of the
chandelier in the center of the dining-room
to place near the partition. Deputy Coro-
ner Ryan soon arrived, and, summoning q
Jury, OF which ]. B. Rejdick was the fore
man, at once. proceeded to investigate the
cause of the tragedy. Abe Waggoner, a col
ored waiter, was first called, and made the
following statement: served the oysters to
Mr.. Hooper and his friend. He ordered two
IOznwa trnvn az 81
two dozen fried. While standing be-
hind Mr.. Hooper he commenced writ
ing, and told me mot to stand behind
him, if pleased" and walked right away.
When he shot himself ne had his pistol in
his right hand and was looking toward the
gentleman at the end of the table. Here the
jury followed witness into the dining room,
where he described the manner in which
Hooper was sitting when he took his own
life. The oysters had been served at the
southern end Of a long table. Hooper's
friend had taken the seat at the end, While
be had taken the one on the left side,
with his chair turned slightly to one side,
placing him in position almost facing his
friend.
THE SUICIDES LAST SUPPER.
Martin Burkhsrdt, one of the proprietors,
testified to the following effect: Hooper
came in and called for two glasses of ale,
and ordered two dozen fried, two dozen
stewed and two dozen raw oysters, laid
down a ive-dollsr bill and remarked:
"Keep this until come back" During his
absence 1 had the oysters prepared as di-
racted. He came in the second time, with
friend, and while sitting at tie table, ord
cred two more glasses of ale. M attention
was not again called to the table until /
heard the report of the pistol and saw
HoOper's friend standing up as if utterly
l2I 81 hot As.I e.~N
Prof. j. w. Yeatman testified: / knew
Hooper. He was formerly pupil of mine-
| was seated al another table, with my back
turned to them, reading paper while wait
ing for supper, when was startled by the
report of pistol. 1t was all the more start
ling from the fact that it was totally unex-
pected, nothing whatever having previously
occurred to attract my attention to the two
young men. HoopeI's friend had sprung to
his feet with great amsZement depicted upon
his countensBce, and he handed me two
notes which had been written by Hooper.
Hstton LsnnOm was the next witness called:
When sitting at the end Of the table, Hooper
handed me a short note, which was pro-
ceeding TO read when l was suddely startled
by
REPORT OF HooPER's REVOLVER.
1t so amazed me that jumped to my feet.
Hooper had the pistol in his right hand,
and he dropped it as he fell over. 1 under
stood he drew his pistol out at Nilsson &
Wslsh's tonight. 1 had not been with
Hooper until came into supper with him
at his invitation. have been with him q
good deal, and on another occasion pre-
vented him from shooting himself He
moved his chair back a little when he shot.
This witness identified the handwriting on
the notes, one of which he had started to
read, as Hooper's. The first note, which
was not signed, read as follows: "Hatton,
all ask of you is to remem Der me as long as
you live. Remember was your solid friend,
and remember you were my best frlend."
The following is copy of the second note 4:
"Hatton: l want you to give this pistol to
Tom Allison, and tell pa L have got some
goods at Tom Russell's. Hatton, goodbye,
remember me rs one of your best friends,
and remember me 70 all of my old friends
Again, Hatton, good-bye-foreSer." w.
7. H." DR.. Tucker said, on examining the
wound: 1t is evident that he must have
held the pistol in his right hand when he
shot himself. The bullet has torn great
hole in his Uranium. The rising on the op-
poste side of the face, without closer exam
ination, L bslieve to have been caused by
the accumulation of blood which has flown
out from artery. Hooper must have
placed the muZzle of the revolver square up
against his temple when he fired. On
searching Roorer's pockets
THREE KNIVES WERE FOUND,
one of them large and bran-new one, with
rather formidable blade. 1t is supposed
that this was purchased with view to self
destruction. The verdict of the jury was
that Hooper came to his death from q ball
fired from pistol held in his right hand,
and that it was preneditated suicide. Late
yesterday afternoon Hooper attempted to
borrow pistol from Marshall Yeargin, but
without success, He then told Yeargin that
he was going up town to supper. When
only seventeen years old Hooper attempted
to kill himself, and subsequently made
frequent attempts in that direction. About
two weeks ago be seized negro woman by
the arm on Broad street, drew his pistol and
10. q a haad