Telegram-herald., 1889-05-30
ANOTHER TRAGEDY
James STimps Blows out hls Brains
With Rlfie.
ANOTHER ANFUL AID SHOCKING DEED
priBk MAJ ss the Cause of shs Suicide
His fs1aiis Distracted -ars- stfups
IL sister of Capt. Harry
blanchard, 0f Detroit

Another awful tragedy took place IN
tins city = little after noon Yesterday.
James Sumps, German cooper, living
at IL syeamose-st./ committed suicide
by blowing o0t las brains with a rife
Mr. S.impS and his Wife sat down %
their dinner and the wife noticed that
he ate very httles and Was nervous and
apparently excited. She inquired the
cause and WAS told il Was nothing. She
then asked hlm 20 have another cup OF
tea, and he SAID no, he had eaten
enough. He then arose from the table
leaving his wife still seated and went
iato a closet OFT the front room. In q
very short time she WAS startled boy the
loud report of a gun. She called 20 him
and asked what be was doing, but re.
ceiying no answer became frightened
ran out Of the house and called
neighbOr. lie entered the
closetnan there found stimps with a
tire back of ms head blown of. He
had sunk back against the clothing on
the wall and presented most terrible
appearance. Pieces of the skull lay
scattered around on the floor. Great
clots of blood and brains covered the
wall and clothing. His brains had
OOzed out and were entirely gone. A
hole two inches across was made IN the
wall where the charge had entered after
dong IL awful work.
DR. L. L. Wright was summoned, and
he notified the coroner and police. II
was found that the gun with which he
did the deed was a Springfield rifle, of
the newest make, similar 10 those used
by the militia.
The butt of the gun had been set on
the floor al one side of the closet, while
he stood at the opposite side and leaned
the weapon toward him until he could
easily lay ms forehead Oh the muzzle.
The trigger was pulled 10y means of a
string attached to rod used for clean
lng the gun.
Coroner LOcher summoned a jury
composed of Messrs. Phillip Graham,
John Van de Wright, Patrick Casey,
Gus Smiley, John Powers and Amherst
skinner. After swearing two witnesses
the inquest WAS adjourned until this
morning.
Stlmps was 5S years of age, and was
of German birth, although he had
been III tins country number ofyears.
,t is said that he had decided anarch-
lstlc tendencies, and when IN drink was
very ugly. His wife says that about
fourteen years ago he attempted 70
commit suicide 10y cutting his throat
with razor. During the past year
the patrol wagon has been called tc
| the house to quiet disturbance caused
10y his being full of whisky. 1t was
understood though that he had recent
| ly quit drinking.
Stimps has TWO daughters who arc
| dressmakers for Bell Hartness, in the
Tracy block. They were notified by
telephone Of the terrible affair. They
and Mrs. Stimps were nearly crazed
with grief at the terrible death of the
| husband and father.
1t IS said that Mrs. Stimps is a well
| educated woman, having graduated
from the public schools of Detroit, and
that she is sister of Capt. Harry
| Blanchard and a Mrs. Moran, wealthy
| people IL Detroit.
The story is that she married Stimp:
against the viii Of her parents and
friends, and as Stimps turned out sucl
worthless, drunken fellow, she ha
seen nothing but sorrow and trouble al
| her life.
j. ID. Mason, the undertaken, tool
| charge OF the remains and prepared
them for burial.