The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-01-14
SUICIDE.
A Young Man Deliberately Shoots
Himself with q Pistol.

Himself with a Pistol.
Just before 8 o'clock on Thursday
afternoon. 9 young man named Leo
Steinsn shot himself with a revolver.
He entered the gunsmith shop Of Mr..
Jos. Barker, IN Commercial street.
and began taking with the propri-
etor. In the course OF the converse
ton, which was about nothing IN par
ticular, be said be wanted TO buy a
pistol. Mr.. Barker began showing
him some, and be inquired about
their details. Finally be was shown
40 old navy revolver, the barrel OF
which had been cut down to about
half its usual length. He asked what
sized bullet it carried, and Was shoRn
some sluss which had been moulded.
He tried one, and finding it was not
fit, whitfield il down with bis knife,
and told Mr.. Barker to load the pistol
and be would buy it, adding that
one load would dc. Mr.. Barker did
not take the slug which 6teinGu bad
cut down, but another, ami having
loaded the weapon, handed it to the
young man. He took the pistol and
Mr.. Barker turned to replace the
pistols he had been showing To young
Steinau. He bad Just turned his head
when he heard the click of the cylin-
der turning. and locking around
he saw Sreinsu with the muZzle of the
pistol against his left breast, and be-
fore he could grab him, The weapon
was discharged. Steinsu was standing
near the door st the time, and with
out any evidence of agitation, laid
the pistol on the counter with the
right hand, and opened the door with
the left, and walked out, followed |
closely by Barker. Mr.. Barker and |
Mr.. Pierce in the next chop who |
heard the shot, and saw the young
man walking in an unsteady man
ner, csnREt hold of and assisted him.
He walked along until he got nearly
in front of Meears' liquor store, when
be sank down and was carried into
.he Wssatch drug store. He was
by a number of doctors and
here was difference of opinion as to
he character Of the wound, whether
{ was fatal or not. 1t was conceded
hat the ball, which entered the left
,reast little below the collar bone, and
,ouIsing downward came out at the
Jack on the left side of the spine and
rear the last rib, had passed through
be LETT lung. While there DR.. Tag
art told him he was going to die,
nd he said: THAT'S what want"
he doctor then asked why he shot
himself, and he said he did so be.
ause he was tired of living. His
,rother, Mr.. Joseph Steinau, then
anne in with tears iu his eyes, when
LEO told him not to weep, and said
le had done it wilfully, as he was
ired of living. He was then removed
o his brothers. rooms in the King
House, in the rear OF the Tribune
,fice, Drs. Hamilton and Bane at
ending him.
There was some intimation that 8
emale was concerned in the affair,
,ut he Indignantly denied it. His
rolher questioned him, but got no
nsWer, save that he had been great
to his parents in Louisville,
kentucky, and that he did not wish
o be so any longer. He also told
lis brother that he had written q
etter to him, which he would find in
lie pocket when be was dead; Whereat
Or. Jos. Steinau wished to read it
hen, but Leo objected 30 strongly
bat he desisted. Mr.. Jes. 6teiDau
aid the young man bad been very
Ast of late and spent considerable
nome, but there Was no occasion for
lis doing the rash act; his parents
i've ct Louisville, KY. where he has
good home, and to which be could
lave returned at any time.
At 1880 o'clock last night his con-
ition remained unchanged. He
apparently suffered a great deal; WAS
conscious and very quick at
what was going on in bis
DOM. There existed, ct midnight, q
vide difference of opinion IS TO
what the effect OF the shot would
70. He had spit no blood, and
ONE of the doctors declared that
lie lungs mad not been touched,
md that he would recover, unles- in
with attendant dangers,
et in. Some say the ball merely
entered the flesh and passed. around
lnder the skin and came out at the
Jack. This seems hardly reasonable;
md physicians agree that the ball
passed through his body. but as to its
having touched the lung or not,
here ia difference. He is q little
iver 20 years Of sge, and possesses
Iscidely prepossessipg features.