The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-31
A CONGRESSMAN SHOOTS HIMSELF.
Mr.. eulbertson's Desperate and Probably
Fatal Attempt on His Own Life.

WASHINGTON, July Representative VIM.
W. Culbertson, of Kentucky, shot himself at
his room at the National Hotel about noon, and
is lying in critical condition. On Saturday ne
went to the National and took room, saying he
would be there but few days. He was then
quite nervous He stayed about the hotel, none
OF his friends in the city knowing he was there.
After breakfast this morning he had his trunks
and boxes checked for Frankfort, KY, and,
without going to the clerk, had the servants
change his room from one in more remote part
Of the house toNo p, which is just at the head Of
the stairs on the second floor. After having his
trunks checked, he was not seen any
more, and it was supposed he had
gone out. Officer Farrer was standing at
the corner Of Sixth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, when five pistol-shots, in quick success
sion, rang out, apparently from window over
his head, and he rushed into the hotel, telling
Officer Lamb, whom he met on the way, to come
along, as some one had probably shot himself.
The clerks had not heard the firing, and the off
GERS passed through the lobby unnoticed, and
ran upstairs to where they had heard the firing.
As they were looking for the room, the key
turned in the door of No q, and Representative
CulOefJSon STOOD DefoH6 them With q pistol IN
his hand and dripping with blood. The first
thing he SAID, on seeing the officers, was I'm
afraid haven't done il; boys: want to, though,
and viii. : He seemed dazed and handing LIS
pistol to one Of the officers he asked him to see
Il there was another load in it. The off
Ger told him there was not and he asked
him to load it for him. His conversation occu-
pied but little more than minute, when the
wounded man began to stagger. The officers
laid hold of him and medical aid was sent for.
In short time Doctors Townshend w G. Bris-
co, B. q. Poole and j. S. Mclean were in the
room and were doing what they could Two
shots were found to have taken effect in the
back of Culbertson's head, just below the base
of the brain, both balls going through both
walls of the skull, but the brain had not been
serious character. The wounded man lay in a
half-unconscious state, with part of his body
across the bed and his legs resting
on chair, propped up with pillows. AT
ter his face had been bathed and proper medical
attention rendered he recovered sufficiently TO
talk little He then felt his own pulse and
whispered to the doctor that he was afraid he
was getting better. He offered no explanation
Of his act. When asked where his wife was, he
replied she was at Frankfort. but said he did not
want to send for her, as he was ashamed to meet
her Il am afraid won't die, he said; shut |
am bound to do it; you can't help it; that's posi-
tive no use sending for any onen
The only cause assigned for Culbertson's at
tempted suicide is nervous depression, resulting
from little too free use of stimulants during
hot weather. The wounded congressman was
taken to the Providence Hospital
Lateral 1 o'clock A. NJ Representative
Culbertson is alive, but the physicians have no
hopes OF his recovery.