The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-07
THE INSANE DEED OF A KENTUCKY
CONGRESSMAN AT WASHING
TON, YESTERDAY.
Representative CulbertsOn, Out
of His Head from Drink,
Shoots Himself.
A Tragic Scene at q Hotel at
the National Capital at
Noon Yesterday.
The Victim EYinces His Determ-
inatiOn to Die at His
Own Hands.

WARRINGTON, July 30.-RepreSenta
tive w. w. Cllberson. of Kentucky
shot himself at his room, at the Ma
tional hotel, about noon, and is lying
in critical condition. Ga Saturday
he went to the National and took a
room, saying he would be there but a
few days. He was then quite nervous.
| He strayed about the hotel, none of
his friends knowing he was in the
city. After breakfast he had his
trunks and boxes checked for Frank
fort, KY, and without going to the
clerk had the servants change his
room from one in the more remote
part of the hotel to No. q, which is
just at the head of the stairs on the
second floor, the windows opening on
Sixth street, near Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. After having his trunks check
ed he was not seen any more, and it
was supposed he had gone out.
Officer Farrar was standing at the
cornor of Sixth and Pennsylvania
avenue, when five pistol shots in
quick succession rang out, apparently
from the window over his head, and
he rushed into the hotel, telling Off
Ger Lamb, whom he met on the way,
to come along, as some one had proba-
bly, shot himself. The clerks had not
heard the firing, and the officers passed
through the lobby unnoticed and ran
up the stairs to where they heard the
firing AS they were looking for the
room the key turned in the door of
Mr.. q, and Representative Culbert-
son stood before them with pistol in
his hand, and dripping with blood.
The first thing he said. on seeing the
officers was, "I'm afraid 1
havn't done it, boys; 1 want
to, though, and 1 will He
seemed dazed, and, handing the pistol
to one of the officers asked him to see
if there was another load. The officer
told him there was not, and he asked
them to lead it for him. This CONVEX
sation consumed little more than a
a minute, when the wounded man
began to stagger, and the officers laid
him on the bed.
Medical aid was sent for, and in a
moment Drs. Townshend, W. G.
Brisco, B. G. 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 his head, just below the base of the
brain, both balls going through both
walls of the skull; the brain had not
been injured. The doctors said the
wounds are of a serious character.
The wounded man lay in a
half unconscious state part Of
his body across the bed and his legs
resting on chair propped up with
pillows. after his face had been bathed
and proper medical attention had
been rendered, he recovered sufficient
ly to talk a little. He then, felt his
own pulse and whispered to the doc
tor he was afraid he was getting bet
ter. He offered no explanation for
his act. When asked where his wife
was he replied she was at Frankfort,
but not to send for her as he was
ashamed to meet her Il am afraid l
won't die" he said, but l am bound
to do it; you can't help it-that's posi-
tive No use sending for any one"
The only cause assigned for Culbert-
sons attempt to suicide is nervous de-
preston resulting from little too
free use of stimulantS during the hot
weather. The wounded congressman
was taken to Providence hos pital.