The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-02-14
TIRED OF LIFE.
The Attempted Suicide Of VIII L.
Norman, Cashier of the
Oils House.
His Life Still Hanging by Thread
Which May be. Broken at any
Moment.
[AtchiSon Champion, Yesterday.l


The rumor that prevailed on our streets
about eight o'clock last evening, that Will
Norman, the popular cashier OF the O,is
house had committed suicide by shooting
himself in the bar room of the hotel, caused
an intense sensation, and many exaggera-
ted stories were started as 10 the cause and
result. \ report OF The Champion visited
the hotel soon after the terrible act had
been committed, and found Norman LAYING
in room No. II, attended bv Doctors Hol-
land ndsiough. He was lying on the bed,
occasionally speaking regretfully of the
bungling manner In wtich he had done the
shooting, and frequently declaring that he
wOuld take more care the next time If this
effort failed. \ small round hole in his
lett breast, marks the Course of the bullet.
and it is difficult TO believe his young life
can be darkened by an instrument, the ef-
fects OF which, TO the casual observer, ap-
pears SO Insignificant.
Around his bedside were gathered A half
dozen of his intimate friends, who are SADLY
watching the varied symptoms that are Wis
ible, and eagerly questioning the serious
looking physicians as 10 the probable result
OF the rash act. There was tut one answer
to them all. His lie could be saved only
by 4 miracle. Rev. +. T. Ingalls,, who was
at the time delivering temperance dis
course from the pulpit OF the congregational
church, was sent for, and spent an bour
with him. After his departnr-. for the frs,
time the would-be suicide expressed a desire
TO recover, but lew moments later "a. fell
J into state of delirium, and continued ,o
reiterate his wish that the wound might
prove fatal
The incidents OF the suicide, as We could
CLEAN them IRON the three or fonr who wit
messed it, are as follows: 1t seems that
/ Norman had been souIeWhat disSipated for
some time past, and the remnnstrances on
the part of his employers had tailed 10 re-
strain him. Finally, yesterday evening
about five o'clock, after a few words. he wa.
| formally discharged from thcir enplov. In
his habitual careless way, lie replied ''ail
right, put on has coat AMI hat and walking
down in the bar-rOOm called for drink OF
whisky. In 4 short time he repeated the
order, and afterwards drank ! third time.
Mr.. Marks, proprietor OF the saloon. kindly
demonstrated with him, and when he again
asked for liquor, absolutely refused him,
and endeavored to persuade him TO drink
no more that night. lie had been talking
some about his affairs and was unusually
joylai and reckless, signifying his intention
TO take run down 10 Kansas City for a few
days. Finally he turned toward Marks
and made the remark:
MARKS, I'm going to doa double-trapeze
act in this room To- night and get NV name
in the PAPER in big letters, and don't you
forget it.n
Several other joking alluSions TO some
intended act were made, but they were at
tribut-d To his good humor and nothing
was thought OF it. In lew moments he
again turned TO Marks, aud said
We'll, what's the Use of fooling anv
longer? and walking about three steps
away from the counter, deliberately uubut-
toned his vest, took his revolver. a small
Smith " NeSson, cut Of his hip pocke:,
| placed the muzzle against his lett breast.
directly over where he supposed his heart
was, and fired. With quiet sort of laugh,
he said I've give it to myself and walk
ed up Ia the counter and laid the pistol
down. Those standing near could hardly re-
aliEe that he had shot himself, but the small
crimson thread came soaking through his
clothing, and they knew the crime had at
least been attempted. He was taken up To
his room, and Drs. Holland and Cough I'M
mediately summoned. The rest has been
told. As We go to press he Is lowering be-
tween life and death, with only bare pros
pect bf his recovery. Internal hemorrhage
is now prevailing, and hi- physicians pro-
nounce him almost beyond medical aid
Will Norman came from ST. Joseph but
a few weeks ago, where he was a book
keeper with Nave, McCord X Co. lie is a
boy with thousand good qualities to one
bad one, and is his own worst enemy. Full
Of life and energy, with a bright intellect
and a brave, generous spirit, he numbered
his friends by the score. \ handsome,
manly fellow. he was favorite in society
ami boon companion among his associ-
ates, ever ready to share his purse OF brave
danger for any friend