The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-12
TIRED or LIyI.vG.
A Discouraged Contorti IA rguments for
Temperance-A shot In the Eye.

Discouraged Contortionist-A rguments for
Temperance-A shot In the Eye.
Julius Burton was a boarder with Mrs.
Crone of 50 Essex street for sixteen years. He
was acontortionist. and at one time earned n
fair livelihood. but recently he has not done SO
well. Mrs. Crone says that he belonged to n
family In New Orleans who were all contortion-
lists. and who disowned him because he quit
them and came to New York when he was six
teen years OF age. He was entitled to some
property in his native city. but he refused to
return. and allowed IT to pass into other hands.
Once Mrs. Crone says. whenlhcr brother was m.
Burton supported her family for weeks. He
rarely had an engagement in circus lately. but
earned what he could by performing in bar
rooms. Two years ago his mother in New
Orleans contracted a second marriage. which
disturbed him very much. He lapsed into
drunkenness. and earned less money than for
merly. Eight weeks ago. returning late ut
night into the rear tenement whore his land
lady has rooms. he fell into the cellar and In
lured II lex severely. He went to a dispensary
Tor treatment, but the leg did, not get
physicians who attended him that hc
had marked symptoms OF consumption.
discouraged. and. though his leg began TO heal
slowly. he was unable To work. His intemper-
ance increased. and his landlady says that ire-
quently. after long spree. he Went TO bed and
slept for forty-eight hours and then got up To
drink again. Mrs. Crone was content 10 Keep
him without pay but he frequently spoke to her
OF his deterulinntion Ia kiii himself either lac
hanging or drowning. On Wednesday he WIS in
high spirits. In the evening lie told Mrs Crone
tnat he was going out 10 try and earn some
thing. She endeavor"d 10 dissuade him. say
ing that whatever money. she could earn by
washing clothes she would divide with him.
He refused to take ANYTHING from her and went
out. Sha thinks that. failing TO get any work. he
spent the little money he had for liquor, and
was drunk when he returned to his room. Yes
terday morning her son looked In. and saw him
hanging by strap from beam over the door.
His feet We're resting on n stool which he did
not seem TO hav. had strength to kick away
The strap was, one that he had usually worn
subsequently broke when police officer
Mike Brennan. n large. powerful truckman.
committed suicide yesterday morning. He was
drunkard. He was separated from his wife,
and slept in stable at 2O7 West Thirty-scvcnth
street. lie was popular with his associates in
the stables. eng very lovlal. During the past
week he hgd been uncommonly incorporate
and II was thought that he WAS drunk when he
went into the stable on Wednesday night. At 6
yesterday morning his employer Mr.. Smith.
went into the stable. and found everything rs II
his intoXication. Before man looked in
through the window and saw the truckman
near him. He had wound the rope several
times around the beam, fastened the other end
around his neck. climbed up the ladder. aud
Capt. John Otto. one Of the directors OF the
iat" leu'3hdaa a, savings hank, ~ lying IN ms
in his brain. The family refused all inlorma-
ton 70 callers. saying only that he. had
intimate friends gives the following account OF
the shooting. and the cause which led to IL:
Capt. OTTO is a we-to-do German. who uccu-
ness. He retired several years ago and
lived on the income, from several pieces
holder and director Of the Teutonia Savings
Bank was a member Of several German So
cieties. Captain OF r company in the old First
Artillery and WAS DOlulur among his lttrulftn
fellow citizens. "A few months ago the Teu-
tonia Savings Bank failed and its finances
were found to have been grossly mismnnaged.
The poor depostors who had lost their
money were greatly incensed at the trustees.
man nswspapers published severe censures on
the officers and the sentiment became so
2ss %s2s a~Sn san'' hssea s% @f he "%
upon the street Capt. Otto. from a jovial.
mirth-loyinE, man became gloomy and de-
rightness. and sought to cheer him. telling him
WAS keenly sensitive over the adverse comments
on the management OF the bank. and gave way
10 despair.
On Wednesday morning ono OF the German
the Teutonia trustees again, and urging their
indictment. Capt. Otto read it. and was much
niterward asked his wife II she had read il.
She replied that she had not and he told her
not to do so. That night Capt. Otto wandered
whore he stood looking into the water for some
time. He finally walked back to the house and
While Mrs. Otto and the servant were getting
breakfast yesterday Capt. Otto arose dressed
himself partly and, taking asmall four -barrelled
revolver from the bureau puced the muzzle to
hs right eye a9d pulled thS trigger twice The
with handkerchief held up to his eye.
TO the servant who met him he said that mos
dqt9 hSd bitten him tR ana ,d he theh psed on on out
said STye Shot myself" He crossed the street
and then started up Fiity-hfth street toward
Induced him 10 return TO the house DR.. ASSEM-
heim"r the family physician. prObrd for the
bullets without success, and was Of opinion that
they had lodged in tho brain. He said that
was almost out oi the question. Capt QUO Is
about 80 years Of age. He has II wife and two
Koundsman Carlry and Capt Washburne.
whil" walk NJ through West Fortieth street at
about o'clock last evening. heard woman
ins her hands at the fourth story Of the house
At A1o. The officers burst open the door OF the
room oacupind by n Swiss family named Biseh-
oiborger. In the front room Conrad Bischof-
berger. the father. lay naked on the floor.
wlt! his ulr2M cut, but, stil breathing. His
lpur niue children We're huddlcd in "A corner,
and their mother stood wrlneng her hands
T0, an Interpreter Mrs, ,Bischofberger said
bread for my children. and he said that he could
get No bread. He stepped into the back room
ahn snoIty ~, n.Ui NHru M rnnn Hui Hhl sald n
He then cut his throat before us, and fell ms you
see him."
Roundsman Carley found the following letter
written in a neat hand. addressed 10 the citi-
zens OF New York and dated Ga p. NJ.
wish every one to know tnat Conrad Bschoibergcr
from lirdcn switzerland OIL account oi losing my mind
unable to support any longer Wic aud idur clu
dren We all starving TO death ami am determined
To rd them ~ presence. leave this world that
may take care Of nv vie and children We
have had awful troubles and suncrings God have mercy
Oh my soul.
The body lay on the bare floor OF the poorly
furnished rooms late last evening. tho Coroner
not having arrived. The mother and her chill
dren. silent and starving. we're huddled to-
gether in one corner Of the room. under dim.
dirty lamp
Heat Trina. Aada-