The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-08-27
SELF SLAUGHTERED
A NAVY SIX SHOOTER DoEsII
A Tenderfoot Tires of Life and Sick
ness and Seeks the S~eclusion
That Death Grants
The Particulars.

Another Of those individuals who go
through life wondering at the inscruta-
BILE object in their special creation, and
failing to discover the aim or wisdom
thereof solve the problem by self
slaughter, was found In Cheyenne yes
terday. And as it was the first suicide
committed In Cheyenne for many a
day, a tremor of excitement was visible
in the neighborhood.
The felo de sc bore the name of Adel-
bart Plough, pronounced Plu) and
hailed from Roxbury. New York, last
spring, 1t being his first experience
away from home, although he was 25
years Of age. He had been in Chey-
enne a few months ago and then went
to Denver. On Friday last he returned
from Denver and went to the residence
of George Vandyke, who lives in a
frame house near the foot of Seven
tenth street, on the fats. He vas
! suffering from mountain fever, and as
MI. Vandyke knew his people in york
state' he babe the young man welcome,
and promised TO take care Of him. On
Saturday Plough called on DR.. w. W.
Crook for a prescription, and on
cluded that he would not take it then
but would wait. The doctor represents
him as being a man of some knowledge
and sense, and who seemed to have a
fair education. On Sunday morning
Plough sent for the doctor. and was
found to have a high fever, the pulse
going up to LOG. As often afterwards
as necessary DIR. Crook visited his pa
tent, who continued to improve right
along. Yesterday morning the fever
had almost subsidized and the pulse was
natural.
The last time he was seen alive was
by Mrs. Vandyke, who gave him his
medicine shortly after four O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. She then had occa-
sion to go out, and soon she heard the
report of a pistol shot coming from the
house. Her little daughter, who had
been playing in the room in front of that
occupied by the deceased, came rushing
out crying that MI. Plough had shot
himself and was lying on the floor Of
his room, through which she had just
passed. Mrs. Vandyke immediately
sent for two men who were working
neal by, and they went into the house
and found that Plough was dead, and
the weapon of destruction lying by his
side. Soon the word spread, and a
LEADER representative visited the
scene, and learned the above facts and
| others.
From the circumstances and sur
%roundings it appears that after Mrs.
Vandyke had left the house Plough
arose, and opening his trunk took out
a huge navy six shooter, old style. and
sitting on the edge of the bed placed
the muzzle Of the weapon in his mouth,
pointing upwards, and fred. OF course
death was instantaneous. The ball
ploughed through the brain and came
out just above and behind the left ear.
The bullet struck the wall and fell on
the floor. The body lay on the floor as
1t fell until the arrival Of the coroner.
The cause Of the suicide was, very
probably, mental depression. Plough
felt downcast and homesick, continual
ly longing to DO home. On Monday
evening he gave the only idea that he
had been meditating death. He said
to Mr.. Vandyke: II wish somebody
would shoot me.n Nothing else did he
ever say on the subject Of death.
Although he had been out Of work for
some time, he vas not absolutely in
need. He paid his way as he went,
and got Mr.. Vandyke to write to his
father in New York, on Sunday. for
money; 80 there was no immediate
prospect Of his being thrown on the
cold charities of the world. Mr.. Van
dyke had promised to keep and care for
him as long as he remained i'll.
Coroner Lee empannelled a jury con-
sisting Of MessrD. j. w. Bruner, F. A.
Miller, l.. McGlnn, j. ii. BISHOP, j. H.
Wood and J. Talbot, who after listen
ing to the evidence returned a verdict
of death by suicide, caused by mental
depression.
The coroner found, among the pos
sessions of the deceased, 81. 90 in mon
ey, some railroad tickets, and masonic
lodge receipts, from Cour de Lion
lodge, of Roxbury, n. Y. These were
given to a representative of Cheyenne
lodge, A. F. & A. NJ. The remains
will be inferred to-day under the aus
pices of the lodge.
As stated above the deceased, Plough,
was a young man. He was unmarried.
Mr.. Vandyke telegraphed the fact of
Plough's death to his father in New
York, but had not received an answer
up to a late hour last night.