The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-02-20
A Ballet In His Brain.


On Sunday AFTERNOON the dead body OF
William Titzell, jr., was found by his father
in an uuoccupied house on his farm, in Fall
River township. The body was discovered
in rccumben. posture inside the building
and further examination revealed the fact
that the man was dead In his lap lay 81
calibre revolver enc chamber Of which had
been discharged, the bullet entering the side
Of the head little above and in front of the
right ear Near by the corpse was discov
cred note on which were penCiled the COM
mand "All | have to say is to have bill
Milligan shot as soon as possible. Good bye"
From the testimony Of Deputy Sheriff
viii Milligan, before the coroner's jury on
Monday, it appeared that he had had some
trouble with deceased, who was employed a.
turnkey at the county Jail, Ti,zel was
asked by Miss Belle Milligan to clean the
from, steps, which he refused, saying that it
was some Of the old womans work, referr-
tic employed a. he CO ,n,y Jail by order of
that lady tod hin. to wlsl the kitchen win
dows On the o side, nd Ti,zell told the
hired girl he wou se3 Mrs Milligsn in hell
first, Al j TIA g e coul ell lie, so and be
DAMNED. When e d Iuy sheriff YVES in
formed few hours later Of this occurrence
he Immediately sought out Titzell, whom he
found in the cellar, and asked him if he had
made use Of the expressions in regard TO his
mother above referred to. The turnkey an
| swered that he had, when Milligan promptly
struck and knocked him down. After hay.
ing lain few moments on the ground Mill
gan told him TO get up and leave the prem
Uses. Ttrell asked for time until, rs he said,
he could recover his senses.
Albert Rath, who was a witness TO the af
fray in the cellar, corroborated Milligsn's
testimony. and stated that the deceased
seemed in dazed condition when he left the
Jail shortly after, which was about o'clock
on Friday afternoon of last week.
William Titgell, the father Of the young
man, testified to the finding of the body and
said that his son was of very sensitive dis
position, anu that he had not 10 his know
ledge ever exhibited symptoms of insanity.
The testimony Of John Smith and Frank.
q brother Of the deceased, Was of minor
Importance.
Monday afternoon the jury returned a
verdict that William Ttzell Jr., "came 20 his
death by shooting with his own hand, either
on the l2th or 18th Of February a. D. 1886,
while laboring under atempOrary fit of men
tai alteration"
The suicide was the all absorbing topic of
discussion on the s!reets Monday and Tues
day.
Wednesday noon was the time set for the
funeral, which was very large one
A great deal of sympathetic Indignation
was freely vented by neighbors Of Titaell as
to the manner Of his sons death, and they
demanded that more searching examina
ton Of the facts in the ease be made. The
deputy sheriff's connection in the matter
was fully criticised and canvassed pro and
con. Though Mr.. Milligan admitted that he
WAS somewhat hasty and regretted the cir.
cumstsnces which prefaced the tragedy still
there were vigorous demands for more light
10 be thrown on the case. Accordingly,
| shortly before the funeral ceremonies took
place, DR.. Ralph D. Dyer went out to Mr.
Titzelrs and held an autopsy On the remains.
The physician found thu, the bullet wound
was through the anterior edge of the righ,
temporal bone, the missile penetrating the
brain to the depth Of only an inch an half.
This is accounted for by the fact that the
pistol was held closely pressed against the
fesh, large quantity of powder being found
under the skin. On a thorough examination
by the above physician he found unmistsks
BILE evidences Of chronic Inflammation OF
the brain, which he had entirely removed for
inspection.
After leaving the Jail Friday afternoon
Titzell was not seen it seems by anyone,
until his dead body was discovered as above
| related.