The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-24
DESCA'S DESTINY.
HE Is TIRED OF LIFE, AND BLOWS
HIS BRAINS OUT.
Particulars of the Tragedy.

| The suicide mania has again set In, and
hardly has Thomas Lucy's remains been lH1d
to rest In his narrow cell In the Firemen's
Graveyard than his example is followed by Mr..
]. Desca, a tobacco manufacturer doing BUSH
ness at the corner of Decatur and Bienville
streets Desca shot himself in the head with
an improved Colt revolver. in the loft OF his
tobacco factory. at half past o'clock yesterday
morning.
| A representative of the DEMOCRAT repaired
to the store, and was taken up stairs into the
loft, where the unnatural deed had been COM
mitted. On entering the room thebody was
found on the floor, face downward, near the
stairs. The head rested In a pool OF his life-
blood, which oozed from a CHASTITY wound In
the right side OF the head. near the temple.
His right hand. which still clutched the instru-
| ment OF death, was under him, which went to
show that when he took his life he was In q
standing posture.
| On box short distance from the body was
the deeeased's coat and hat. evidently having
| been placed there by him before firing the fatal
shot.
| An examination Of the head OF the deceased
went to show that the bullet had penetrated
the right
| SIDE OF THE HEAD
and had made its exit through the top. OF the
out the cause that forced Desea to destroy him
self.
| His partner and clerks stated that at . o'clock
Mr.. Desea came to the store and, which was an
unusual thing with him. repaired Immediately
the desk In the Office where his clerk kept his
pistol an improved navy Colt and, unnoticed
t. ss a % t ana + IL hs
| the last time be was seen alive.
| They waited for his return until 1890 o'clock.
"a Stnt ftADr ravtt
up stairs to the second floor. and after tina part
OF the house had been searched thoroughly by
hin without he the she
| ths door, and to his horror found his employer
lying on the floor, apparently dead. and be-
splotch of blood and brains on the boxes and
wall. Hs examined Mr.. Desea and found that
Immediately descending to the first floor he
told all of his shocking discovery After all had
viewed the dead man they searched his pockets
and the desks In the office to see ii he had left
| ANY LETTERS
| that ight show the cause that prompted him
| to take his lfe but the search was without sue
cess. The only conclusion that could be ar
rived at was that some time ago. Desca's estab-
| lshmenf, together with other tobacco factories,
was seized by the revenue officers. His propo-
sition to compromise the affair for $500 was &C.
United 1t 4tes District Attorney Leonard. aud
the money was deposited In the sub-treasuty.
On Tuesday. referring to the seizure. he re;
| Tkeu I'D u ITleuu tHhG ut uhu uhTuly got
OF one trouble than others crowded on him and
made his life misery. He then went on to say
| that he had sent some drafts for collection to
Baltimore and that they had not been paid.
| These two transactions. together with numer-
GUS other obligations that he could not arrange
| satisfactorily are assigned as the cause Of his
| self-dtstruction.
| The deceased was SO years of age. native OF
| France and a single man.
In the factory. of which he was up to the
time Of his death the principal owner, he start
ed five years ago as clerk for Mr.; Moulor.
mitted suicide By blowing his brains out In a
street car. At his death Desca took charge OF
the concern and ran 1t in the interest of Mrs.
| teres.,
Deputy Coroner G. @. Cain viewed the body.
and after giving certificate OF death In accord
| ance with the facts, the deceased was removed
to his late residence. on Bourbon street, be-
| tween Customhouse and Canal.