Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-30
sUltIDE OF A LTERATEUR.
". M. Rysrso8, . princeton Gradu-
ate, Blows Cat HIS Brains.
TNav York World

William NJ, Ryerson, said 10 have Deeo
for some years contributor 10 Tue press
and magazines and graduate OF Prince
ion College, was found dead in his bed, ~
No. 222 east Fourteenth street, shortly
after noon Monday, from self-lnliicteo
pisfoI-shot wound In the pht temple. Inc
building Is fourstory brownstone, con-
Quoted as q lodging.bouse by george w.
Barclay. Ryers0n had been LOGGER ~ INC
place for two or three weeks, and occupied
n large room on the third floor. He came
In sunday night, as usual, and retired TO
his room. lie did not appear Mt his Gus
tomary hour Monday morning; but
nothing was thought OF ii until noon.
when Landlord Barclay, becoming alarmed
Al receiving no response TO repeated knock
,ngs on the door, went TO the Seventeenth
precinct station and returned with Police
man Roth. The officer forced open The
door and entered the room.
In the bed. propped In sitting position
nv pillows. was the body OF Ryerson, clad
in a night. dress; blood from wound In
the rio ht temple covered the face and chest.
Tightly clutched in the right hand was
revolver OF the Smith 4 Wesson pattern.
So rjoidIy had the death.stifIened fingers
clio, ed about the handle OF the weapon that
N reouired the exertion OF considerable
strength 10 release 1t. The room was in
nsrfect order. with the exception OF The
tumbled bed. which indicated that the SUI
eide had retired to rest the night before
No scrap OF writing indicated a reason Tor
the act. The condition OF the body showed
that the fatal shot had been fired miny
hours before The tragedy was discovered
Rverson's mother and sister were com.
municated with ut their home In Newton,
n. J.. and came at once to the house OF
death. Both were overwhelmed win srie'.
The mother declared that the shot mus
have been fred while Ryerson was sunef,
ing from temporary insanity, as MS ihihO
had been so decidedly affected seven year
ago that II was necessary 10 commit nun =.
the insane ASYLUM at Morriston, n. j. liz
was confined in that Institution ior So
months, ut the expiration o. when tune ~
~es d,scbarged as cured. An uncle OF the
J..d man. an elderly, prosperous looking
man. who declined to give either his name
or address even TO Coroner Levy, who tool
charge of the case. called at the Fourteenth
street house during the day, looked at tn
body, and went away. :.
Want could have played no part II
driving the suicide 10 death. a. the sum 0
s73.54 was found in the pockets OF hi
clothipg, besides a gold watch and chail
and several other articles OF iewelry. 4
number OF letters were also found. none o
which bore on the case at all. The bod.
will probably be removed TO Newton 10
burial.
The most determined efforts were mad
by Barclay, the landlord, TO preserve IN
matter from publicity, and little could
learned concerning Ryerson's mode c
life. 1t Is possible that trouble with
Young lady in Newton had something |
do with Ryerson's suicide. The followin
note was found In the room, dated Ne"tof
December 18th, and addressed by Ryerson
can be pleased, and you are not asSe
TO do Il. Isuppose you found 1t quite M
iossary to add that spiieiul thing to you
letter after reading my soft one. 1t make
very little difference TO me whether 20
come or not. IRENE CLARK.