Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-04
THE FATAL SHOT.

4 Stranger Ends His Life by Send1ng
Bullet Through His Brain and Leaves
No Clue to His Identity-The Inquest
To-day.
Considerable excitement was createo
Yesterday afternoon in Market square y
rumOrs of a suicide at the Harnett HOUSE,
Investigation proved the rumor TO De lrue'
on the 23d of November mlddie-ageua
prepnssessing man arrived at the hotei
and registered as H. c. Winthrop, Kansas
civ He was a quiet gentleman, ana
tbonob somewhat reserved in his manner
and address, was, from appear
ances. believed TO represent some
business concern in the west
Upon his arrival he was assigned to room
"a. on the third floor. About O'Clock
Yesterday afternoon the chamoerihaId
Tapped at the door, and receiving no
answer pushed it open and entered part
Wv when She was Mortified by the sight
of the occupant Of the room lying on tue
bed. with a bullet wound IN his head ana
the blood flowing in a stream over the
bedding and upon the floor. The dis
coyerv was Immediately reported to the
Coroner. who took the body in charge.
When found the body OF the unfortunate
man bore evidences that life had 0eeh e4-
tinct but a short time \ OuIIet IoIS
through the right temple and the DlOod
sfraamin,, over the dead mans face to the
inflow and the fatal pistol clutched IN the
RIGHT hand told the old story OF suicide.
Tho remains were those OF a man appar-
emily about p wears of age, of medium
height and with dark hair and smooth
face. His clothes were removed anu
laid upon table by the side oil tle
bed. There was nothing III sigh1
arrs ~ n
titv or show where he belonged. An IN
yesti0stion discovered at the foot OF the
bed piece Of paper torn from meme
rapdum book. which, together win
small pocket knife, an empty pOcketDOok
and 4 bunch of KEYS. were found among
his effects. and upon which was scrubbed
a note To the proprietor Of the hotel, saying
that some money which he had sent LOT
would come i'm his own name, Wnlch was
W. =. Howard. and asked that as niue
publicity be given TO his death as possible.
In the memorandum book was a leaf
torn from the binding upon which was
written a farewell note-eVldently
c0py-as follows: ,,.,
Brothers aud sisters, all farewell nave
loved YOU. and love YOU stlll, anu II,
through Gods great mercy. am permitted 10
meet with YOU all again then may we nave
cause To rejoice again. All farewell. DO not
mourn or search Tor me-
W. =. HOWARD.
On another page was the following:
SAvANNAH, GA, Nov. --
give to you my watch to keep as yours.
In 50 doing -
The. sentence was left unfinished, but
the date indicated that the purpose TO
commit the fatal act had been in his mind
for some days at least. The hrst pages
Of the book upon which entries
had been made were torn out, evidently
with a purpose to destroy any clue that
might lead to his identity, \ card found
in one Of his pockets bore the name OF
firm i'm Ottawa, Kan, and some bottles OF
medicine upon a table in the room bore
prescription labels written by DR.. Foster,
Sedalia, No. The unfortunate man had
complained of feeling unweH several
times during his stay at the hotel ana
remained in his room, having ms
meals sent to him. Yesterday morning
he did not come down and his breakfast
was carried to him. Several days ago he
spoke TO the proprietor about having
written for some money, which he sup
posed would come to him in a week, and
10 which he probably referred in the note
found upon the bed. The weapon with
which the rash deed was committed was
a dOuble-actiOn self-cOcking revolver, OF
the Bull Dog pattern, and with il
caIibre chambers. -Four cartridges were
discharged and one chamber renamed
loaded when the weapon was found. Inc
body was removed to the mOrgue last
night. an inquest. will be held this
morning and the remains will be buried
at noon.