The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
YOUNG PUTNAM'S SUICIDE.
THE FAREWELL LETTER THATHE LEFf
FOR MS PARENTS.

Troubled Because he had not Kept his Pror-.
tse to Change his Boardine Place" ForseN
me, or f not, Think OF me as Used 10 be.~
Mr.. Chas. L. Putnam OF Davenport Ia.
started for homo by the o'clock train from the
Erie depot last night with the body Of his son.
John O. Putnam. the student OF Stevens Insti-
tute who shot and drowned himself in the
North River on Tuesday last. Mr.. Chas. n.
Putnam has beautiful home on the banks OF
the Mississippi. In Davenport. Ho stands
among the foremost In the legal pro-
fession in Iowa. He is OF tho family OF
Gen. Israel Putnam. and has relatives In
Saratoga. N Y. His wife is a daughter OF the
late ex-Gov. Duncan Of Illinois. Mr.. John RIs-
Icy Putnam OF Saratoga, an uncle Of the suicide.
with his wife, were in Jersey City until the
body was taken by the father. 1t will be remem-
bered that among young Putnam's effects was
discovered n note referring to some disgrace
that he had found unbearable and also n sealed
letter addresse1 to his fnther. This letter was
opened by Mr.. Putnam after his arrival in Jer-
sey City on Friday Within the outer envelope
was another envelope. on which was written:
This is to my parents and they alone shall
open II. Mr.. and Mrs. Chns. Z. Putnam"
Tho enclosed letter explained the reason Of
the young mans suicide. 1t read as follows;
DEAR PARENTS have studied and Worried S m Hn, am
one nsS w Phys G nS5 ySu isS oF how Tf1
Anout week ago got IL INTO my head that the boys
When was about 70 leave IN talking Win "0rsnnys
G a T @ louS % IN us NJ she s wa. very anxious tor ne
came up Handsomely aud thought had better stay.
Sckm9wiedse ihS weakness not % say senshness q
win y ard 90 On saturday tried 10 study study e 6ai & seSIs &
but was so sick and miserable that could do neither
some hut Monday; when met With the class
wa. MAN. but an. have my ddSshs doSS now and qRhsI
II Is very foolish one have not behaved like myself
But can't stand th. lie any longer bccSSse esni
face my dear dear bohe and aS All n sroSa,.
and and ny lovely sister am all broken ~ and am
oa SS' q for @ al Your o DSns Ss to @ II SGs @ S 9sns
iul Iregret exceedingly that could not be worthy of
% my h'Tf 6eT my Puts taken" s'e
| scndmy love to ali Remember me to Charley ana
pIgnsan I HSw Low sorry ny poor little sister VIII be when
vis ,o ss S@ca @ - d9 te qet boSs 10y sse
Of them but have lost sight Of them and have other
sfsea to "a is% Of the BOYS here among them % I've
iti. morning probably my last day on earth 1t Is .
How can u yet must say farewell forever and for.
GoodbS God bless yoSi Forset me or il not ,RiSE q
me only as used to be JonS CALDWELL PGTSiz
=, In conversation with reporter. Mr. Putnam.
morbid state Of mind which led TO the taking OF
his life was largely induced by the fact OF Inn
paired eyesight. Since his youth my son has
been troubled in that way, Indeed. his educa.
ton has been mostly acquired by the reading Of
his lessons to him by others. | fear that his
eyesight had so far failed as to render II difficult
day. and this worked upon his mind.
already morbid and overtasked. His ambition
seemed strong for only short time ago
wrote him TO come home and rest. His reply
was: Father. your letter contains real hard
sense. but cannot give up till finish The
| week before his death. In it he spoke OF hav-
| Ing had some trouble. but that II had been ad-
| lus.ed and he was in good spirits We were In
| Ignorance rs to his mental condition. and the
| press Of work upon him."
Young Putnam. despite his trouble. was q
| hard student and ranked nith in his class. He
was. at the time OF his suicide. treasurer OF 9
| the college. Among HE affaats was found hia
! book Of accoupts. Between the leaves was a Is
showed balance OF s4.64 in Rls nanaE... tses ses
which he had left the As note