Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-10
EFFECTS or HARD STUDYING
4 STUDENTS SAD END.

Asgutsus : Cspsrsf WhsppIs's sen ssss"
ss,m.esr wbsis Dsrarssd Thrsush stsds.
New York HeraId.l
Among the brightest Of the young
medical students Of the New York Uni
yersity who are to graduate this year was
Walter G. whipplc, tho twenty-four-
vear.old son of Assistant AdjutantGen-
sral whipple, ofGeneral Hancock stall.
The young man shot and killed him
self last night at his clearinghouse,
No. 305 east Twenty-third street. The
cause Of the suicide was religious mania,
induced by over-study. whipplc en-
tered the college three years ago, and
was to take bis degree this month. In
addition TO this, it was his intention to
20 before the United States Army Med
zeal Board next month for examination
as an army surgeon. Next year would
have been too late, as he would be over
the required age. To pass these two
severe examinations the student
applied himself night and day to his
books. Whipple had great friend in
the Rev. DR.. Tompkins, of Calvary
chapel, in Twenty-third street, who
says he noticed recently that the young
man talked more than usual, and often
wildly, about religion. On Sunday
whipple borrowed Bible from Mrs.
Brueggemann. his landlady, and read
it all day. Yesterday he bought him
self Bible and continued to pore
over it.
THE FATAL SHOT.
About 6 o'clock Mrs. Bruegge-
mann heard pistol shot in Whipple's
room. Rushing in she saw him stag
gering about with a revolver in his
hand. Mrs. Brueggemann is a stout
woman, and she grasped the student,
who was delicate, and tried to disarm
him. He fired again, however, but the
bullet sped out of the window. Then
the landlady threw him to the floor and
secured the pistol. Whipple had shot
himself in the left breast. DIR. Keller,
who was passing, was called in, but
could do nothing. The Rev. DIR.
Thompson was sent for.
"why did you do it, Walter?" he
asked.
"Ask Christ" replied the dying
student.
YTell me, won't you?" persisted
his friend.
"Tell me not in mournful num-
bers," came the faint response, and the
young man was dead.
Little was found in the room except
a card, upon which was written:
Walter, hurry up and get your di-
ploma. and we will have a good time.
"W. ii. c."
Who the signer is no one in the house
knew.
The pistol was a new one, the paper
in which it had been wrapped being
found on the floor. The young man
had 1904 in his pockets.
Word of the sad event was sent to
General Whipple, who is stationed on
Governors Island. The stricken parent
went at once to the house. His grief
was so great that he had to be removed
from the room on the floor of which his
sons corpse was lying.
ON GOVERNORS ISLAND.
Young whipple was known to the
people on Governors Island as "queer."
He had come there with his father,
General Whipple, his mother and Sis
ter, four or five years ago. OF a rather
shy and retiring disposition, apparent
ly, he now and then surprised folks by
his peculiar way Of acting. Last year
he passed successful examination at
the New York University Medical
College, but his diploma was
withheld, the reason given being
that he was under age. This spring he
passed the examination again, but con-
tinued the study of one branch pending
the commencement on the 18th of this
month. Rev. Mr.. Goodwin, the chap
lain at the Island, said last night
that the young man was of exempla-
~ character. Until recently he had
gone from and to the Island every day,
but for some weeks had stopped in this
city.
When early in the evening General
Whipple received the dispatch inform
ing him of the suicide, and came to
the city accompanied by DR.. Janeway,
the physician stationed at the Island,
he said nothing to his family of what
had occurred, hoping that it might not
be so serious as the dispatch indicated.
The General and DR.. Janeway returned
TO the Island ON the half-past 10 o'clock
boat. DIR. Janeway said that the young
man was a very hard student, and at.
tributed his act to the unbalancing Of
his mind from over-study.