The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-23
PULSIFER IS DEAD.
SUPPOSED TO MR. CoMuITTED
SUICIDE
ON ACCOUNT OF LOSS OF MONEY.


Bosrov, October 21.-Colonel Royal NJ. Pull
sifer president Of the Herald Publishing COM
! pany, was found dead IN bed at his summer
residence at Islington under circumstances
/ which compel the belief that he had taken his
! life
On Thursday last Colonel Pulsifer informed
/ his wife that he would go to Springfield that
! afternoon and return the following morning
Later he announced that as he was DESTROYS of
| obtaining much needed rest he would go to
! his country house and remain over night. He
was not seen again alive. This morn
| ing Mrs. Pulsiier became alarmed
end sent servant out to Islington
in search of her husband. The man was hor-
rificd on entering the coonel's private cham
Der to find his employer cold in death. Ply
sicians were summoned at once, and the med
ical examiner was also notified. The latter
reports that life had been extinct twenty-four
hours when the body was found. He declined
to state the cause, but an investigation reveals
the fact that Colonel Pnlsifer died from an
overdose Of chlcral, self-administered.
He had been sufferer from nervous pros
tration and insomnia Tor some time, and bust
ness troubles weighed heavily upon him.
Unwise investments and innumerable wild
cat specuiations had drawn heavily upon his
resources, and it has been an open secret for
months that he was financially embarrassed.
In fact. several large obligations viii mature
Monday, which fact probably led the worried
man to self destruction. From 1869 to 1888
Colonel Pulsifer was the head of the firm of
Pulsifier & Co., publishers Of the Herald, his
partners being Messrs. Andrews and Haskell.
A few months ago whom the Boston Herald
company was formed and new blood infused,
Colonel Pulsiter was made president of the
10 ",
five years ago, studied in the Boston public
schools, went as youth into the Herald and
worked his way up. At one time Colonel
Pulsifier was considered very wealthy man,
though of late years his personal affairs have
not prospered. He was twice elected mayor
OF Newton, and was very popular among his
associates and employees.
THE NEWS IN NEW YORK.
NEW YORK, October q. Special. THE sud-
den and mysterious death of Colonel R.M .Pulsi-
fer, of the Boston Herald, has created great
sensation here and the sad ending of the good
man has been much discussed at the various
hotels today. Colonel Pulsifer's acquaintance
in New york was very extensive, and he was
honorcd and cordially liked by all who know
him. He wasa great believer in the unlimited
possibilities of the material development of the
south, and always grew enthusiastic when dis
cusSlnS Ihe natural resources OF southern states
and theiheroic post-bellum energy of the south
ern people. He was a substantial friend toIsever-
al leading southern enterprises and contributed
generously of time, talent and money to the
furtherance of their prosperity.
AT the time of his death he was director of
the Savannah, Florida and Western railroad,
vice-president of the Florida Southern, one of
the executive committee of the Plant Invest
ment company, and president of the Marietta
and North Georgia railroad He at one time
had very large interest in the last named
company, but recently sold it all out except
small amount Of stock sufficient to qualify
him as president; hence his death will in no
wise affect this enterprise, his relation to it of
late having been purely nominal. While his
death is generally characterized as suicide,
presumably induced by financial troubles, it
remains profound mystery, even to his most
intimate friends, how he could have lost his
great fortune.