The Evening critic., 1882-03-07
A BULLET In THE BRAIN.

A BULLET IN THE BRAIN.
Mr.. e. w. Hnvcuncr Makes a Desper.
ate Attempt ut Suicide-pnrticulars
of the sad Authorization OF tha
Wounded Man To-day-Not Much
Hope Of Recovery.
Mr.. Charles W. Havenner, the woll-known
real estate agent ana broker, shot himself yes.
tordey afternoon at his Office at Seventh street
and Louisiana avenue. At about 80 o'clock
a pistol-shot was heard by some persons pass
ing, and by Mr.. J. NJ. Tate, printer, who was
at work in q room separated from Mr.. Haven
ner's of1lce only by a thin wall, but the shot
attracted no special attention. Shortly after
ward n boy employed by Mr.. Tate started down
stairs on an efrand, and Is reported TO have
been met by lady, dressed in black, who was
coming out Of Mr.. Havenners office, and who
informed him that gentleman had Just shot
himself and needed immediate help. The
lady then left the building. The boy returned
Immediately hastened to ascertain the truth OF
tho reported shooting. on entering Mr.. Ha-
venner's office,
Horrible sight Met Their Eyes.
stretched on the floor at full length, lying
upon his back, gasping, moaning and almost
unconscious, was Mr.. Havenner. His head
was lying in a pool of blood, which had trick
led across the room in a crimson rivulet. One
eye was literally torn from Its socket, and lay
exposed ON the blanched cheek. The dying
man, who could utter no word OF recognition
or explanation, was raised from the floor and
placed In reclining position. Word was dis
patched to Police Headquarters for an ambu-
lance, and one was not long in arriving on the
spot, accompanied by Detectives McElfresh
aud Coomes. Upon an examination OF Mr..
Havenners wound IL was found that the bull
let, which was Of what is known as calibre 80,
side Of the right eye, almost at the
bridge Of the nose, and had passed di-
reetly through tho brain, finally passing
out at the back Of the head. The pistol was
an old one. 1t was a Derringer, single bar
relied, and had begun TO grow rusty from
too little use. Mr.. Havcnner was tenderly
lifted up and carried out to the ambulance
and taken TO the Providence Hospital. The
pistol was taken to the Police Headquarters.
one OF the physicians who was called into
Mr.. Havenner's Office before his removal to the
hospital found him in very prccarious con-
dition. After his removal to the hospital he
relapsed into unconscfousncss and 80 con-
tinued. on his way thither Mr.. Havonner, in
answer to a question put to him by one of the
attendants as to the cause OF the shooting,
answered: 'It was accidental" Upon another
occasion, however, he refused TO say whether
II was accidental or not, merely contentlng
himself with the remark: 81 shot myself
with marked accent upon the last word.
There is little doubt expressed by Mr.. Ha-
venner's friends that his act was premeditated
and the result of mental disturbance, caused
by financial difficulties. 1t Is said that the
unfortunate mans business affairs were har-
RAISING, and had caused him a great deal of
trouble lately, and 1t is thought that he sought
death as a relief from increasing difficulties
1t is reported that Mr.. Havenner was seen lott
ering about the Seventh-street wharf yester-
day In away that led people to suppose he
contemplated drowning himself.
MIR. Havenner's Condition This
Morning.
At 10 o'clock this morning Mr.. Havenner
was still alive, and resting easier than at any
time since the shootiog. The physicians at
the hospital expressed no hopes of the man s
recovery. hut of the opipiOn that a
might live for several hours longer There is
n difference of opinion as to the effects of the
wound among prominent physicians, some
stating that 1t is
Not Necessarily Fatal,
while others state that recovery is impossible
The wounded man will lose the sight of one
and family remained with him during the
night and were still at his bedside this morn
ing.
Havenner's Condition at Noon.
At noon to-day DR.. Bayne, one Of the attend
ant physicians at the Providence Hospital, IN
conversation with THE CRITIC, stated that thu
unfortunate Mr.. Havenner was still alive, bu
In his opinion had only three or four hours Il
live as his strength was failing rapidly.
The Lady who Made the Discovery
| There need be no mystery In regard to tn,
lady who first made the discovery that Mr.. G
W. Havenner had shot himself 1t was youn.
lady from Georgetown who had business ap
| pointment in the same building, and on pass
| ing Mr.. Havenner's Office which is at the hea,
| Of the steps, she heard his groans, and look
ing into the room, saw him lying on the foo
| in pool Of blood. She Immediately notife,
| the first person she met, and thinking that sh.
| would be in the way, went home.
| The Act Premedttated.
By inquiry in every direction 1t was ascei
| tained that the universal opinion is that tn
| unfortunate man was alone when he was shot
| and that the deed was done with suicidal IN
| tent. Mr.. Havenner's affairs have recent
| become embarrassed, and the bare walls an
| uninyiting condition of his Office show unmis
takably that his business was not in froui
| ishing condition.
THE CRITIC chanced TO meet VIM. b. Match
| EFT, well-known resident of the city, and Il