The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-04-06
TIRED OF LIFE.
Vanderbilt, in a Fit of De-
spOndency,
Sends a Bullet Crashing Through His
Brain in New York-The
Particulars.

New YORK, April 2.-COrneliUs j. Van
deTbilt. brother of VIM. II. Vanderbilt,
shot himself at the Glenham Hotel, Fifth
avenue, this afternoon at O'clock, and
died from the effects of the wound at
o'clock. From the time of the shooting
until death he was unconscious. Many
friends of the dead man and members of
his family were present when he passed
away. The motive for the act given by
friends is that it was the result of men
tai arrangement brought on by years of
suffering from epileptic fits. No other
reason could be given, as his financial
affairs were said to be in a most prosper
Gus condition. Vanderbilt came to the
Glenham Hotel two weeks ago last
Saturday from Florida, where he had
been spending several weeks. He had
previously visited Hot Springs, Ark, for
the benefit of his health, which for the
past year had been very poor. He was
accompanied by his friend and travelling
companion, George Terry, of this city,
who has been with him continually for
many years in his jOuTneyings and at
his home. VandeTbilt's condition was
such that assistance was likely to be
needed at any moment when he might
be taken with one of his epileptic fits,
and for this reason a companion was in
dlSpensable. They engaged a suit of
rooms on the fifth floor of the hotel,
which is the one Vanderbilt always
patrOnized when in the city. Wander
bilt occupied one room alone. He was
in the room much of the time, and has
been out but seldom since his arrival
here. This morning he felt more un-
well than usual and did not leave his
bed.
Mr.. Terry was in the room during the
greater part of the morning attending
70 N
nothing unusual in his actions or APP
peaTance. AS he seemed to be in per-
fectly sound mind just before 1 o'clock
he left the room for the adjoining apart
ment, which he occupied, to attend to
some private affairs, leaving Vanderbilt,
as he supposed, sleeping. He had been
out about an hour and had closed the
doors communicating with the two
apartments for fear of disturbing the
sleeper; meanwhile he had heard no
sound. Suddenly he was startled by the
loud report of pistol coming from the
adjoining room. Hastily jumping up
he rushed to the door and opening it
was Mortified to see Vanderbilt stTug-
Cling apparently in the agOnies of death.
IN his right temple was an ugly bullet
wound, from which the blood slowly
OOzed. He still clasped in his out
stretched hand a small seven-chambered
been discharged. Terry identified the
pistol as one Vanderbilt had been in the
habit of carrying for several years.
Shortly after this the struggles of the
wounded man ceased, and the only evil
denCe that life was not yet extinct was
his slow and labOred breathing. DR..
Robert +. Weir, the family physician of
Vanderbilt, when he arrived, pronounced
the wound fatal, and said that there was
r1s - inc 60,
Several attempts were made to restore
him to consciousness, but without sue
cess. Vanderbilt never spoke after he
fired the shot. Meanwhile messengers |
were sent for his friends and family. |
The latter live in the city, but the de- |
ceased has not been on speaking terms |
with them for years. His brother, Will |
liam H., arrived at the hotel between |
and o'clock, and was shown to his |
room. He said but little, and when told |
his brother could not live, remained but |
a short time to make arrangements in |
regard to the dispOsing of the body and |
then drove away. His visit was fol- |
LEVIED by that of his son Cornelius and |
other of the dying mans nephews who |
reside in the city and who remained |
with him until he died. G. o. Perrin, |
DR.. Weir and Scott Lord, Mr.. Wander |
bits lawyer, were among the others |
DIbSGub db Ills uttlllf w HUI OCCuIItu "a |
few minutes before six o'clock. The |
funeral services take place tomorrow |
in the Church of the Strangers, |
and the body will then be taken to Hart |
ford for interment, beside that of his |
wife.
The affair was kept very quiet, and it |
was 10 o'clock before the police were |
andlthe news soon spread over |
the city. f.. o. Perrin stated that Van
lerbilt's mind has been failing for many |
years in consequence of being subject |
to epileptic fits. Neither Terry or him
self, however, suspected he would ever, |
even in the most violent moods, kill |
himself. He always carried a pistol, |
merely for self-protection. At times he |
was free for considerably long periods |
from the dreadful disease, but in order |
to escape its influence he was obliged to
travel most of the time. This had been
his mode of life for the past few years,
and although he had Just finished a
large house in Hartford, Connecticut, he
was not able to live there much of the
time. Perrin said he did not think Van
derbilt was in any financial difficulty,
for since the reported compromise with
his brother in the will contest, he had re-
ceived from it large amount of money,
al least one million dollars, nor did he
think he had been speculating.