Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-22
ANOTHER SUICIDE.

This Time at the NicOJlet HOteI-EJer b.
Hill the Victina of His OoUn FoUy-ViIe
Alcohol the Cause.
A few minutes past noon yesterday a
shot was heard from closet in the wash
room of the Nicollet house, creating in
tense excitement among the many persons
present. A rush was instantly made
to where the shot proceeded from,
and sad spectacle met the gaze of the
excited multitude. There lay E. B. Hill, an
old resident of the city who had taken his
life by firing bullet through his left tenn
pie. The ball entered the skull and re-
NAMED embodied there, resulting in his
death shortly after. The deceased had
been drinking. On Wednesday evening
he was arrested and brought to the lookup
for drunkenness by Officer Good
In land kept in a cell till
yesterday morning, when he was released
When he entered the lookup he had on his
person a small pistol loaded with five balls,
which Officer Nelson took out, giving the
pistol and its contents to Jaile Needham,
who retained the bullets when the prisoner
was discharged in the morning, but gave
him back the pistol empty. Before leav-
ing he wrote on the police record the fol-
lowing significant words: "Do not forget
my record" Last summer the deceased,
inscompany with his two sons, E. D. and B.
L. Hill, carried on a -four, feed and com
mission business at 1905 Washington ave-
nue. south. There was some family trouble,
and Mr.. Hill and his wife separated, since
which time he had been drinking heavily,
eliminating IN the awful crime of suicide.
The coroner was sent for Immediately after
the deed was committed, and on see
ing the character of the wound, pro-
nounced a recovery impossible. The
bullet passed through the brain.
The weapon employed in the rash deed
was 32-calibre, ordinary pattern, and
contained but one cartridge, which he
must have obtained since leaving the jail
in the morning. He was fifty-ive years
of age, of medium height, stoutly built.
had gray hair, and wore a mustache and
whiskers. He was a member of the
G. A. R., and at the time of his death wore
a semi-military dark blue fatigue jacket
and felt hat, The youngest son arrived
at the scene shortly after the tragedy had
occurred, and those present at the time
say he did not manifest any great sorrow
Or emotion upon beholding the sad spec
tacle. Thesdeceased had many friends,
and those who had business dealings with
him in times past speak of him in the
highest terms of praise. The remains are
at present writing in Warmers undertake
ing rooms, and no inquest has yet been
held on them.
Since writing the above the GLOBE re-
porter met the man with whom Hill had
been staying since last April. His name is
j. S. Harrison and he resides at Twentieth
avenue northeast and Quincy street. He
spoke as follows:
Know Hill since II; never knew him to
be under the influence of liquor; always
appeared to be honest in his dealings and
gentleman; he had trouble with his fam
lily; last winter they took his money from
him and turned him out Of doors myself
and wife found him in delicate health and
had him come to our house; on Wednesday
morning he left my house, where he
had stayed since the Goth of April,
and did not return till evening;
was acting strange for few days
and we felt uneasy about him :;
He borrowed a revolver on Wednesday last
from ]. Leonard, unknown to Us, saying
he wanted to shoot dog. He has wife
and two sons who are over twenty years
old. He and his wife separated, but there
is no divorce. He was out of business
about eight months; was East last fall;
think he is a native of Pennsylvania.
During the time he was with
us ne was temperate in his habits; some
times joined me in taking q glass of beer,
but at no time took enough whisky to hurt
an infant. 1 work in the Washburn ~"
mill. The following interview with my
wife as reported in an evening paper is
| quite correct:
Mrs. Harrison, the lady with whom Mr..
Hill boarded, says that never within her
! knowledge has he been under the influence
of liquor. He was never known to drink
and has always behaved himself like a
gentleman at her house. He remained
around the house a great deal and never
went away for any length of time. For
| the past few days he has been worrying
about pension money, which he had not
received for some time. 1t was evident
from his actions during the past two days
that he was not in his right mind.