The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-07-31
TEL7..EGRAPHIC
SUICIDE.
The Spanish Minister Pays His
Debts by killing Himself.

Inc spanish M1nISIer avs his
Debts by Killing Himself.
New York, 29.-Francisco Barco,
Spanish envoy and minister plenipotsn-
tisry, to the United States, committed
suicide with q revolver this morning in
his room in the Alternate Hotel. He
arrived in the city from Washington on
the 20ih instant, aud went to the hotel,
occupying a suite of rooms fronting on
Broadway. His wife and younger
daughter were guests of Jas. Navarro at
Sesbright, II. j. BaEco visited them
several times during his stay here.
Yesterday he called at the Spanish con-
sulste, and conversed for some time with
Consul Ganersl SuaEez Barco was about
to return to Europe with his wife and
daughter who intended visiting his elder
daughter, the wife of Dslisir de Lssalle,
wealthy land owner residing
in Paris, to remain with her while BsTco
went to Madrid, ard again returned to
this country. In conversation with the
Consul General Bsrco, he spoke pleas.
antly Of his apprc aching visit to Europe,
and of meeting old friends and associates
there. Returning to the hotel in the
afternoon, he wrote a number # letters
and dined in his room alone About Z
o'clock he gave his key to the clerk, say
ing something to him in French which
The clerk did not understand. He says
he noticed, however, that he looked
pale and sgitated, and that his hand
trembled; he then left the hotel, but SON
returned, carrying package under his
arm. A little later Manuel s. Suarez, 3
Spanish commission merchant, called
upon the minister By request, and re-
manned with him in his room until this
morning. Bareo eonversed pleasantly
during the evening, and urged upon
Suarez the importance of selling three
horses, carriages and other personal
effects which he had brought on from
Washington, which he wished to DISPOSE
OF before his departure for Europe. When
Suarez was about to leave, however,
Barco betrayed much agitation, pacin2the
floor nervo sly, permitting his emotion
to find Veat even in tears. In reply to
question, the minister said his emotion
was caused by his approaching separa-
ton from his family and friends he loved.
At last he expressed q desire TO go to
early mass at the cathedral, and asked
his friend to cali for him and accompany
him. Suarez promised to call for him at
in the morning and babe him good
good night At the hour named SusreZ
returned to the hotel, went to Bsrco's
room, found the door closed, but not
locked, and the gas burning dimlyi pass
ing into the bedroom he was Mortified to
see Bsrco kneeling beside his bed, his
head dropping on his right arm which
ho bod a,1 or,nyNarFaH IT, his
face and clothes covered with blood,
while blood also stained the Dedclothes
and formed pool on the floor. In the
right side of the head was largo bullet
hole, through which the brains were
slowly oozing; on the bad was lsrga re-
volver, one chamber discharged. BARGE
was already dead and his body was cold.
Without informing anyone in the hotel
Suarez went at once to the consul gen.
ezsl, and the two returned TO the hotel.
The police aud coroner were then noti
fed, 8 dispatch cent to Sonora BRrco ct
Seabrigh!, II. j.; and to the first secretary
of the legation at Washington. On the
table in the sitting-rOom were twenty
letters addressed to mem bers Of the ST.
mon Bsrco family and to his friends.
They are supposed to be the letters he
was writing yesterday. One Of them was
addressed to the consul general, and
stated that he intended to kill himself,
because his tronbles were more than he
could bear. He Slso asked him to take
charge of his effects, and look after his
wife and daughter. The letter gave no
details ss to the nature of the troubles re-
ferred to. It is believed, however, they
were OF a financial nature. He had been
living beyond his means, and IN striving
to extricete himself from the difficulty
by speculation in Wall Street, only be-
came involved. His friends believes
these troubles preyed upon MS mind IN
I'll he became insane. Sonora and Senior
ita Barco arrived in town this evening,
accompanied by the Brazilian minister.
They had been told of the minister's
death, and when they learned OF it suf.
fered the greatest anguish. and are still
Frustrated. Senior Barco was ffty-two
years old. He was under secretary of the
interior at the time of his appointment as
minister to the United States, on Febru-
airy II, 1881. The first secretary Of the
legation arrived this evening from Wash
inoton. The secretary of the Spanish
embassy arrived slso to-day from Eu-
New York, So Miguel Suarez, Span
ish consul general, said the letter left for
him by Senior Barco just previous to his
suicide, contained little Of interest to the
public. The envelop c,ntainad the wi !
Of the deceased and q paper that stated
that he wished his body Inferred in Amer
ics, and expressly that he did not desire
his remains cremated. The deceased, in
letter to the Spanish consul-genersl,
desir d there should be no fuDersl dis
nIsv Int only solemn requiem mAzs.