Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-30
A CONGRESSMAN ATTEMPTS SUI
eide.

A CONGRESSMAN ATTEMPTS SUI.
eide.
Mr. CulbertsOn, Of Kentucky, Shoots
Himself in the Head.
A SENSATIONAL SCENE AT THE NATIONAL HoTRL-
Mr. cULBERTsoN's DESPERATE ATTEMPT 10 END
HIS IIFE-HE PUTS TWO BULLETS INTO HIS HEAD
AND WANTS TO BR LET ALONE TO Dir
Representative ". ". Culbertscn. OF Kentucky,
shot himself at his room at the National hotel,
ABOUT IL O'Clock this morning, and Is lying In q
critical condition ON Saturday he went TO the
National and took room, saying he would be there
but a few days He was then quite nervous, and
had the appearance Of having been on protracted
spree. He stayed about the hotel, none OF his
friends knowing he was In the city. After break
fast 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 a more remote part OF the house to No. g,
which is just at the head OF the stairs the sec
ond floor, over the barber shop, the window OPEN
Ing on Sth street, near Pennsylvania avenue. After
having his trunks checked he was not seen any
more. and it was supposed he had gone out.
About 1885 O'Clock while Officer Farrar was
standing at the corner OF 9th street and
pennsylvania avenue watching the small groups
OF iders about the hotel and restaurant the
way,
FIVE PISTOL SHOTS
In quick succession rang out apparently from the
window over his head, and he rushed into the
hotel, telling Oficer 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 officers passed through the lobby unnOticed
and ran up stairs to where they had heard the fr-
Ing. AS they were looking for the room the key
turned In the door OF No. q and Representative
CulbertsOn stood before them with q pistol In his
hand and
wREAK1NG WITH BLOOD.
The first thing be said on seeing the Officers was
! havp how pf m
though, and will"
He seemed dazed. and, handing his pistol to one
OF the officers, asked him to II there another
load in It. The oficer told him there not; and
he asked them to load II for him. This conversation
occupied but q little more than minute when the
wounded man began TO Stagger, and the OficerS
iaid him on the bed Medical aid was sent for, and,
IN few moments, Drs. Townshend, w. c. Brisco,
b. @. Poole add j. s. Mclean were In the room, and
were doing what they could.
TWO BULLETS IN HIS HEAD.
Two shots were found to have taken effect in the
back Of his head just below the base OF the brain
The brain had not been injured, however, the doc
tors said, but the wounds OF serious character
and might prove fatal. There was danger OF blood
clots pressing on the brain and causing death. The
wounded man lay In haf-uncOnscious state, part
OF his body across the bed and his legs resting
chair, propped up with pillows. After his face
mad been bathed, and the proper medical attention
He then felt his own pulse, and whispered to the
doctor that he was afraid he was getting better.
He pronered no explanation for his rash act.
DETERMINED TO DIE.
When asked where his wife was he replied that
she was at Frankfort, but said not to send for her.
as he was ashamed to meet her.
81 am afraid won't die now" he said "but am
bound to do it. You can't help It, That's positive.
No use sending for any one"
The doctors stayed with him. but could not come
to any conclusion as to what might be the result
OF the wounds, and said simply that 1t was very
dangerous No cause can be assigned for the act,
q ypr O no
hotel proprietor Said he could assign no reason and
said he had not been drinking any since he regis
tered there ON saturday.
ON PRoTRACTED SPREE.
During the session Mr.. Culbertson was at the Ar.
lington hotel with his wife, but just before ad-
Journment the latter went home to Kentucky, and
he went upon protracted spree He went down to
Cape May, and for several weeks had been drinking
very hard He returned here last Saturday and put
up at the National hotel Since his return he has
been trying to sober up. His plan was to 0taper
OF" with beer, and he has been combining himself
to that drink. His whole nervous system was up
set, and his condition was one OF morbid depression
He remarked several times that his life was only
temporarily prolonged, as he was determined to
finish the job. The attending physicians endeavor--
ed to cheer him up, saying that few nights good
rest would IN ke him 1eel differently ~ don't
KNOW" he replied. ga man who has done as
have deserves do die. He ought to be left alone to
die"
THE CAUSE OF THE ACT.
In reply to questions, Mr.. Culbertson said that
his conduct only had driven him to attempt his
life. He declared that there was nothing in the
nature Of domestic trouble.
When the doctors suggested sending him to the
hospital he expressed total Indifference as 10 what
WIS done, but then inquired about the cost. 1t Is
thought that he has. perhaps. SQuandered good
deal OF money and neglected to look after his re-
nomination; that he did not want to face his fam-
lily and his friends after his debauch, and In the
depression produced by the spree he decided to take
his life.
THE SKULL NOT PENETRATED.
1t was found that Mr.. CulbertSon must have
held the pistol, a five chambered revolver OF 3S
caliber in such position as to cause the balls to
glance. Two of them took effect in the rear part
OF the head, as stated, passing under the scalp,
each OF them slightly depressing the skull. but
neither fracturing 1t. This Afternoon MI. Culbert-
son was sent TO Providence hospital
Mr.. CULBERT3oN's CAREER
Mr.. Culbertson represents the ninth Kentucky
district. resides in Ashland, In that state, and was
born near Lewistown, in the central part OF Penn
sylvania, which state he left when he was two
years old He spent three years in the Union army,
commencing IN 1861, with the rank OF captain was
elected to the house OF representatives OF the Ken
lucky legislature in 1870 for two years. and to the
senate OF that state for four years In 1873; was
delegate from his district to the republican national
conventions In Cincinnati and Chicago in 1876 and
1880; was mayor OF the city Of Ashland, and was