Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-07-18
SUICIDE IN HIGH LIFE.
Will n. Chamberlain, Of Burlington,
Blows His Brains Out With q Re-
volver : Disslpated Habits the
CauSV,
Gazette Ju'y l6.h.

Hc uHuOuuCcIilcul vi lIic Bulcluc Oh
Will ii. Chamberlain, Sunday after
noon, created sensation on the
streets. The young man was son OF
Mr.. Erastus Chamberlain, the whole.
sale grocer, one Of the most promi-
ncnt and respected citizens Of Bur-
lington. He was only twenty lone
years ofage, last March, but has liy-
ed very fast-a life of recklessness.
A good-hcartcd boy, viii permitted
habits OF dissipation to get the mas
terry Of him. Finally, about two wears
ago he forged his fathers name, was
indicted by the Grand Jury, and to
escape the penitentiary enlisted in the
United States navy--the influence OF
friends ofthe family securing for him
the berth Of midshipman. He made a
good record while at sea, and it was
hoped that he had completely reform
ed. He returned to Burlington about
year ago and settled down to steady
work in his fathers establishment.-
Latterly he returned to his old ways.
and finding that he could not govern
himself, he became moody and des-
pendent and for several days past
premcditated suicide. Wednesday
of last week, during his fathers alb
sence in Keokuk, Will sat down at
his desk in the Office and indited a
number of letters 10 his friends to be
given them after his death. The fol.
lowing, among them, was found in
his room after his suicide:
BURLINGTON, la, July 18th, 1877.
Ny Dear Father and Mother:
1t pains me much to bring this ter
rible calamity on you, but for my
case can see no other resort. have
spent a very unhappy life since my
return from the sea. However, it is
not your fault, but my own disposi-
ton, which has been constantly rum
ming me into the mire. To be sure
could not expect you to keep my
pockets filled with money all the time.
You have taken more from me and
put up with my recklessness more
and better than any child could ex-
pect, and the highth of my ambition
has been to see how much money
could squander ON women and such
like monkeying around. Ihave been
waiting for sometime to get out OF
this world, and now | am going
Please give me the best style buria
that is at your command. l should
prefer 10 be put in vault in prefer
ence to the ground, but use your owl
Judgment as to how you dispose o
me. Hoping and trusting that l ma,
be forgiven for all the sins that hav,
committed, and may be permitted Il
enter the kingdom of Heaven, ant
there meet you all, am very trul,
your reckless, but none the less lOvin,
son. WILLIAM III. CHAMBERLAIN.
i T. S.-Father, please wear my sea
ring; mother, my plain gold ring
Also, give John Wheeler and Maut
Manning some keepsake Of mine
Hoping that You will forgive me fol
this act, and pray for my welfare il
the next world, | am your son,
WILLIE.
Thursday, after his father returned
home from Keoknk, Will had a long
conversation with him, and asked fol
800, stating that if he had that sun
he would 60 to some place where ht
was not known and try 10 keep away
from evil associations. Mr.. Cham
berlain gave him the money, but in
stead of taking his departure, viii
spent it all carousing with courtesans
so that by Saturday night it was al
gone. About midnight, Satnrda,
night he entered the Gorham Hous,
office and asked Andrews for room
stating that he did not like to g,
home as the hour was late. He wa
assigned room and retired. In tn
morning he did not rise, but had hi
breakfast sent up to him. At l2 3
o'clock, his bell rang. The porter OF
his way up stairs to answer the cal
heard the
SHARP REPORT OF A PISTOL.
| Andrews also heard ii, and, rush
ing up, met the porter who said Their
was shooting down at the other en-
of the hall and he was afraid to e
down. The clerk fastened on dow
and opening the door Of Chamber
Inns room found the young ma
stretched upon the bed
Il WELTERING IN HIS GORE.
His right hand still grasped the re
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