Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-09

Death OfCaptain John 5. Reudel.
huber.

The leading topic about the central
part OF the city yesterday and les
night was the death, by his own hand,
Of Captain John S. Reudelhuber, a
we'll known gunsmith, who for several
years has been somewhat noted as the
commander Of a section of volunteer
artillery here.
For a long time it has been known
to many friends of the late Captain
Reudelhuber that his mind was
out of balance. His cratic actions
and incoherent sentences frequently
occasiOned remark. but few
believed.that it would result seriously
as he was of aquiet and genial turn
and quite popular with a large circle
Of friends and acquaintance.
1t has been said that ever since he
was roughly handled in a fracas at a
picnic given for the benefit Of his
battery, some four years ago, when a
squad Of rowdies beset him with beer
bottles and other missiles, that the
Captain has not been himself. The
fact that of late he has not been stead.
lily employed at his calling, it is be.
lleved also contributed to aggravate
his reason. His equanimity has
also been disturbed by other causes,
and his medical adviser states that
softening of the brain was an affection
which has made steady inroads upon
his mental faculties ever since his
trouble at the park.
Some time ago Captain Reudelhuber
expressed his contempt Tor life, and
iDtimated that he would put an end
to himself. One Of his nearest neigh.
bors heard the threat, but. did
not pay much attention to the
matter at the time. On Saturday
gentleman called at Kupferschmidt'i
gun shop, on Main street above AID
ans, where Reudelhuber WORKED
and found him lying on a couch in the
rear room, apparently in a moody
frame, as he made no reply to severa
questions addressed to him.
Yesterday morning about 8 O'Clock
the wife of a shoemaker, living mex
door, heard the report of a pistol il
the back room, and remembering tn.
captains remarks about ending hi,
life, she felt that something wa
wrong aud informed her husband. Tn,
latter ridiculed the idea and told he
not to bother about it, as the firing o
pistols in the next house or yard wa
a common every day occurrence, tn
same being essential in the work O
repairing and placing fire arms in order
The lady, however was not satisfied anC
stepping to the yard, asked a littl,
girl to look into the back window t,
discover if possible, the cause Of tn
shooting. The little girl did as re
quested and reported seeing Captai
Reudehuber lying upon his bed an,
his face very pale. The lady reborte,
to her husband who at once repaired
to the real door, raised himself so a
to look through the trapsom anC
called Captain Reudelhuber severa
times, receiving no reply.
Word was at once conveyed to tn,
ST. toulouse half a square away, Chic
of Police Davis with Officer Hedric.
went to the store without delay, an.
the Chief finding the front door locke,
was helped through the transou
Going to the rear or sleeping room doc
he found this also looked from within
He forced a passage, to see Captain
Heudelhuber quite dead, his hand
lying across his breast, while a pistol
besmeared with blood, had dropped a
his side, and a bullet Lole as larg
as a silver quarter had been made i
his forehead, a little above and di
rectly between his Dyes. The suieid
had locked himself ia his room
stretched himself upon his bed, an
deliberately fred a pistol ball throug
his forehead into his brain. The bull
} let evidently lodged within, as tn
only mark visible was the hole wher
1t entered.
E An inquest was held and the yer
dict was that tho Captain met hi
death by his own hands. The tuners
took place about 5 o'clock in th
afternoon and the mortal remains WEI
laid in Elmwood Cemetery.
1t may be remarked that the lead
; ing actors in the picnic row, wher
r Captain Reudelhuber was SO violentl
treated, were caught and incarceratet
, and that they died while in Jail.
PROCESSl
Nice Smoking Tohoooo