The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-22
DEATH OF AN ARTIST.
Mr.. Brutns Duc0mmun Commits suicide
by shooting Himself Through
the Heart.

| Mr.. Hrutns DucOmmun Commits Suicid,
by shooting Himself Through
| the Heart.
At $3.50 o'clock last night the neighbors livinf
in the vicinity OF the house No. 80 gampar
street were startled by the sharp report OF pis
tol, and the excitement WAS still more intense
when man rushed out OF the house where tb,
pistol had been fred and informed Officers
Brown and Mickey that young portrait painter
named Brutus Ducommun had been shot.
The two officers repaired TO the scene Of the
tragedy. and az ii was supposed that Ducommun
had been shot by his brother-in-law, Fl. Rudolph,
also q portrait painter, who was the only person
In the room ut the time that he came to his
death, that gentleman WAS made prisoner and
taken to the Central Station ana locked up.
But from the statement Of parties residing in
the house it is evident that the deceased Gem
mitted suicide.
Mrs. Rudolph stated that her brother had been
under the Influence Of liquor ali day and did not
return home until about noon. When she dis
covered hie condition she tried to keep out OF his
way, for when he was In state Of intosication
be was very dangerous. About O'Clock he asked
her I'm husband 70 e. vi him 70 purchase pistol
keep him from buying the pistol, but to no pur-
pose. Brutus said, however, that IL he would 20
with him to purchase the pistol, 81 soon as he
had bought 1t he would give ii to his sister 10
kee p for him.
The pistol was bought and, returning homo, be
gave IL to his sister and she locked 1t up in his
armoir.
After he had given her the pistol he again left
the house and paid visit TO Mr.. Bloodgood.
Again he returned home, and going to his sister
demanded the pistol, she tried to persuade him
not TO take it as he might get into trouble. He
would not listen to her, and swore that II she did
not give him the weapon he would break open the
armoir door.
She unlocked the armour and gave him the de-
sired weapon. As soon as he had the pistol
in his hand he said to hor II am going 10 shew
you how man can blow bis brains out With
this remark, he placed the weapon in his mouth
but did not pull the trigger.
He then kissed her good by and remarked "you
had better let me kiss yon good now, for may
NOT have m another opportunity" He also said,
II hope you will forgive me for everything that /
going into an adjoining one where Mr.. Rudolph
was said "Brother, believe I will kill you,"
and with the remark levsled his pistol at him.
He then threw the pistol down and throwing
his arms around his brother-in-lsw's neck said,
you are too good an old man for me TO hurt. so I
will get rid Of myself. After making these re-.
marks, he left his brothers sight, and going down
stairs tried TO discharge the pistol ia the yard,
but the cartridges would not explode.
Repairing up stairs to where Mr.. Rudolph was
he made no remark whatever, but while that
gentleman's eyes we're drawn from him be placed
the pistol to his breast and fired. Mir. Rudolph
quickly looked around, just in time to see the un-
fortunate man fall to the floor.
The family rushed to the scene, and finding
that no was not dead picked him MP and placed
him on cot in the room where he lived only
a few mimi es.
The wound was then discovered and found to
be in the region OF the heart.
The unfortunate man lie native OF France and
twenty-tkree years OF age.
MIR. Rudolph was interviewed at the Central
Station, and he corroborated the statement made
by his wife.
II is also stated that the deceased has before
made several attempts, while under the influence
OF liquor. tn commit suicide. About ten months
ago no swallowed poison, but not enough to kill
him, and . few months before that he stabbed
himself with piece OF glass.
The reason that Mr.. Rudolph was arrested was
because on the 22d OF April he had Ducommun
arrested and lodged in jail for assault and bat
terry, and 1t was supposed that he was not on
good terms with him.
For this reason Chiff Boylan ordered his arrest
This being the case, Mr.. Rudolph will have TO re-
main 10 Jail until the coroner shall have held an
inquest