New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-24
A NOVEL MEANS OF SUICIDE
HIRING A AsUOOTING-GALLERY PISTOL.
THE END OF AsGALLANT UNION vETEKAN-KILLlNG
HIMsRIE RL EaRE IHE TARGET


HIMSELF BEFORE THE TARGET
well-dressed good looking man, with gray hair ana
mustache went into the shooting gallery No. l3' l2
Bleecker-st, about 1 p. M yesterday anu saAu ho
wanted to practise shooting with pistol single
barrel weapon Of calibre handed to him anu nc
fired six shots at target with it, His aim was moi
good, but he said he would try another round Aitet
the weapon was loaded again he placed Its muZzlo
against the side OF his head and sent bullet into his
brain lie fell to the floor dead. The wound In MS
head was concealed by his thick hair, and II "aa
thought at first that he had shot himself In the mouth
At the moment tho shot was fired the proprietor OF
the gallery had turned to look at the target
Tho mans body was carried to the Mercer e'ree'
Police Station and searched His pockets contained
memorandum book, two scraps Of paper, few trim
kets and a purse with only q few cents In IL. Inc
book and papers enabled the police to Identity him as
Daniel Oakley, q clerk in the employ OF the Union
Trust Company, whose home was at No. LA "est
One hundred and fth-st On one scrap OF paper "S
written II anything happens to me, tell T. ". Dew
Ing No. North Washington Square. lie mas gooo
sense and can use his judgment. Tell Dewing' Inc
other writing was as follows Such bravery devoton
and sacrifice and unable to relieve 1t. Why THIS
/ cannot witness It. 1t kills me. She IL - hiaiis
and VIII, what Is to ccrao OF this
Mr. Dewing, the artist at No. North washington
Square, went to the police station and identihed the
body. He said tho dead man was brother OF Mrs'
Dewing Later W. f. Oakley, Of No. l25 East twenty
fourthst, tho aged father of the dead man went 10
the station with his wife and daughter saa
that Daniel had been to see his parents In lWeh.y-
fourth st. in the morning and had gone downtown Wild
Alexander after breakfast. Mombefs OF the Iaihiy
refused 10 give Information to reporters, fresiu9n, ,
King of the Union Trust Company, visited the isnS
In he afternoon and expressed his sorrow Dane
Oakey had been employed as clerk In the oolnpsny
Broadway Office Mr. King said. but no money passeu
through his hands and the suicide could not nave oeo
caused by irreguarty in his dute, therG Clerk
In was learned that Oakley was forty nve years olu
and had a wife and two children living In West One'
hundred and fth-st. lie was born Ia Massae husetts
and ioincd regiment OF volunteers nom that state az
the outbreak OF tho lie continued 10 the servos
until the war was over and promoted to the ranH
of captain after he had been wounded several times
On account Of his gallantry In the field he got tne
breyet rank OF major at the close OF the war He
was member of a Grand Army post In this oity 10
recent years Formerly he was In business ior MN,
self and we'll of. but he lost all his properly s II"
wears ago He was devoted to his wife and chlldren
and his failure in business gave him much additional
suffering on their account. For months ne hau Dcen
troubled because he could not support them weu on
his small salary 1t was said that ne nan got i9o
financial trouble probably had made him Insane his i
relatives obtained permission TO take chAso VI n''
body last evening