Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-19

CHICAGO, April ia gentleman who
has been stopping at the Hotel Richelieu
since April 10, and was registered as Sidney
Walters, suieided with morphine in his
room last night. Walters spent money
freely, and made many friends since arriv-
ing at the hotel. About $50 last evening q
chambermsid, passing his room, heard la
bored breathing and notified the clerk. The
door of the room was found to be doubly
bolted on the inside, and it took some time
to force an entrance. When this was ef-
fected physician was Immediately sum-
moned and everything possible done to resus-
citate Walters, but he was too far gone.
At the inquest this morning Mrs. Walters,
who was notified last night to come to Chi
cago from Cleveland, took the stand and
testified. She said she had been married to
Mr.. Walters about six months. He was an
Englishman and London newspaper man
OF considerable prominence. Since he had
been in Chicago she had received three let
ters from her husband, in one of which he
said he was tired of living and wanted to
die. He could not make a success of lite.
She did not think at that time, however,
that his intentions were serious.
a
The young man notified lady in Pitts
burg of his intended selfdestruction. At
least he must have done so, as Mr.. Carlson
received a dispatch from the lady about
three hours a ter Walters death, asking if
the Young man had committed suicide. The
telegram is as follows:
PITTsBURG, PA, April IL.
To Hotel Richelieu:
Did Sidney Walters commit suicide to-day?
MRS. NORA ERMAN.
This would indicate that the young man
had notified Mrs. Erman of his intention,
and the lady, thinking it no idle threat had
wired for information.
The suicide was attired in a new and ex-
pensiYe full evening dress suit including
the regulation swallow-tail coat, white tie,
boutonniere, kid gloves and patent leather
shoes. He had evidently intended to die in
good form and he succeeded. Why he COM
mitted suicide is not yet thoroughly de-
veloped.
That he had two or more wives and was
engaged in several gallantries is believed to
have something to do with il. Mr.. Carroll
son, chief clerk of the Richelieu, says that
Walters came to the hotel eight days ago.
He took the best room in the house, threw
his money around as though he owned a
suppers to hosts of gentlemen friends, drove
out in the most expensive equipages, had
boxes at the opera, and was general swell
all around.
ONE OF HIS WIVES.
A scare for letters or other things which
would furnisl a clew to the cause of the
deed was fruitless. The only writing found
was upon two kilograms which read as fol-
lows:
UNION DEPOT.
CLEVELAND, April 15
Received letters and am staying at johnson
street. Mrs. SYDNEY WALTERS.
CLEVELAND. April II.
Telegraph if you are coming and will meet
you. MRS. SYDNEY WALTERS.
Mr.. Carrollson at once notified her by
telegraph of Mr.. Walters death, and she
arrived here this morning.
"He tried several times before to kill
himself" said Mrs. Walters, 'fbut he was
always prevented from carrying out his de-
signs"
Later in the day Mr.. Morris Greenburg,
of this city, called at the Richelieu and in
formed Mr.. Csrrollson that Walters
boarded with him in this city in 1887, to-
gether with his wife, an actress, whose
name is Mslvina Renner. He seemed to
have plenty of money and lived in good
style.
LIVED IN GREAT STYLE.
After residing with Mr.. Greenburg for
seven months the two moved to the North
side, where they started housekeeping at
208 La Sale avenue. They lived in the
height of style, went into the best society,
had grand turnout and were sought after
BY the swell people of the Northside.
Afterward an adventure of gallantry in
which Mrs. Walters discovered her husband
to have been the principal, led to a separa-
tion, and the wife returned to the stage.
She is said to be playing in variety the
ater in Minneapolis at present His brother,
George Renner, is treasurer of the Olympic
Theater, in this city. To reporter he
said:
Walters came to this country eight years ago,
and seven years ago he married my sister His
past Lie was always shrouded in mystery. A
great many people who knew him in the old
country said that he had been a deserter from
the English army, had been tried and con-
victed, and was just about to be transported as
a convict when he escaped and came to Amer
ica- He was fearfully wild fellow, and never
supported my sister, and she was coming to
Chicago this week TO institute divorce pro-
ceedings. He was continually in scrapes with
other women. He was gambler and spent all
he could get hold of in card playing. How
many other wives he had don't know.
HE WAS A JOURNALIST.