The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-02
COOLBAUGa's SUICIDE.


Washington Correspondence Hartford Times
The recentsuicide of William i. C0olbaugb,
OF Chicago, the president of the Union Nation
al bank of that city, which created social as
well as financial sensation, has not yet been
accounted for, though many theories have
been suggested as the cause that led him to
that rash act. While at the department of
justice, several days ago. learned something
OF him and a matter in which he was very
much interested, which was without doubt.
one of the causes. 1t appears that about
ten years ago brother of Coolbaugh's was
convicted i'll the west for a depreciation
on the mails, and sentenced to fifteen
years in the Kansas City penitentiary,
where he is now serving out his term. I'm
der ordinary circumstances, he would not
have received more than five or six years for
his offense; but it appears he defied and
iusulted the judge when about to sentence
him, which so enraged the court that the
sentence was heightened. About six months
ago Chicago lawyer called on Mrs. Cool
baugh, the wife of the convict and told her
that If she paid him $500, he would secure
the pardon of her husband. The papers
were regularly made out and sent to Hayes,
strongly Endorsed by many who knew all
the facts in the case, asking for executive
ciemency. Hayes, as is customary in such
cases, referred them to the attorney general,
before whom the attorney in question made
an argument in favor of the pardon. Every
thing worked satisfactorily, and the attor-
ney left for Chicago; fully of the opinion
that In short time the pardon would be
made He called upon Mrs. Coolbaugh upon
his return TO that city, and, after reporting
the progress he had made, asked for his fee,
or at least part of it, with the understand
ing that be was TO receive the balance as
soon as the pardon was issued. Mrs. Cool
baugh called upon William T. Coolbaugh,
the banker, and asked him for the money to
pay the attorney. He declined to aid her,
taking the ground that. although
the convict was his brother,
he thought 1T would be better to
Jet him serve out the whole of the sentence
OtcourSe the wife objected to this, but she
was made to believe that il the pardon was
granted her husband, as soon as released,
would again get into more trouble; and fur
Their, that he was very much incensed at her
and all of his friends for allowing him to
remain in as long as he had and that he had
threatened that when he was released he
would XIII all hands, she being among the
number. Mrs. COolbaugh informed him
that It was too late now to interfere, the
pardon was about to be granted, and she
could not stop it, even if she desired Cool
baugh told her that he could put stop to
all proceedings if she would write letter
protesting against the pardon being
granted, which she was finally prevailed
upon to do. The lawyer was paid his fee,
and told that his services were no longer
needed in the case. On the following day
Coolbaugh telegraphed to the attorney gen.
eral, urging him to take no further steps in
relation to the pardon, and telegraphing,
also, copy of the wife's letter. He then
mailed the letter, as also other papers in
connection with the matter, and was in
formed, in reply, that nothing further would
he done. A few hours after be received the
letter from Washington, informing him of
the success of his efforts in preventing the
pardon, he threw Chicago into an excite
nent by committing suicide.