The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-17
THROUGH The HtA !.
F. Crosby Under Sudden
Excitement Kills Himself With
= Revolver.
Sad End Of q Bright and Popular
Young Business Man Of
Helena.
Different Theories as to the
Causes Leading UP to the
Rash Act.
Was It the Result Of Insanity or Were
There Unfortunate Family
Dimculties.
He Picks Up . Revolver and Suddenly
Sends a Bullet Crashing Through
His Breast

ward F. Crosby at his residence on Hayes
avenue last evening. The surrounding cir
cumstances, with what is known Of his fam
lily life, indicate that the bullet hole in his
breast was the result of sudden resolve to
end his earthly troubles forever. So far as
his friends had observed, Mr.. Crosby's
movements yesterday gave no intimation of
the rash act that ended his life. He was
about the city transacting business, chat
ting with his friends and visiting various
places. However, he did not go home
to dinner at noon, nor was he
seen by his wife until 8 o'clock
n the evening. He then went home for
his supper after which he went down to
Mr.. Robert Sale Hills residence at 723
Spruce street. There he chatted in a pleas
ant way with Mr.. Hill for few minutes
and after borrowing few papers and a
novel returned to his residence. There is
no definite knowledge as to what occurred
from that time until the fatal shot was fired.
Through friend Mrs. Crosby stated that
her husband came into her room, bade her
good night and then went to his room
across the hall in the second story of the
house. A few minutes later she heard the
shot and rushing into her husbands room
saw him lying on the floor. Hastily
donning a wrapper, she went down
to MIR. Hills residence and told him
what had happened. Mr.. Hill came imme-
diately back to the room where Crosby was
lying dead. He was lying face downward
stand near by, with his right arm folded
beneath his body. A bullet hole was through
his breast and near the bed was an Ameri-
can double action bulldog revolver of A
calibre. An open drawer in the washstand
indicated that the weapon had been hastily
knlv sku yn1n hv TroN
summoned, found that the bullet had gone
through the right side of the heart and that
as consequence death must have been in
Simultaneous. The dead man was
dressed in an undershirt, drawers
and socks. That portion of the
were burned with powder, showing that the
revolver had been fred close to his body.
The head was resting in pool of blood,
which had rushed from his lungs to his
mouth after the heart had been perforated.
It seems that Mr.. Crosby had prepared to
retire and had dropped down on his bed to
Sunday New York World and several other
papers were lying on the bed covers, and
chair in one corner of the room Was covered
with his clothing.
Mrs. Crosby and her pretty little two
year-old daughter, who was fast asleep when
her father died, were taken to Mr.. Hills
tcS1OCACc3 WuCAo t4oy WoIo JO1AcO ny MEb.
Brewer. The bishop is out of town but
telegram was sent informing him of the
sad affair. Coroner Rockman soon took
charge of the case and summoned the fol-
lowing jury: j. F. Weinescary, John Worth,
w. L. Green, J. w. Pace, L. P. Fuller and
John D. Ruff. The body was viewed and
the inquest adjourned until II o'clock this
morning at the morgue.
Of course the first inquiry of the few
people who visited the house was concern
ing the causes which led up to the act. Not
line of explanation was left by the dead
man, but as may be surmised several
theories were advanced. From all that can
shot himself Immediately after brief
quarrel with his wife. The only servants
in the house are Mrs. B. Rogers, the nurse
and Bertha Einevosn, a house servant.
Both of these women say that affairs have
not run smoothly in the household during
their brief stay, the girl having been
in the house go sv ssy week have and noticed hs
lack of harmony between Mr.. Crosby and
his wife for several days. Mrs. Rogers and
tho other servant have rooms on the second
floor in the rear of the sleeping rooms of the
Crosby's. Last evening after they had re-
tired, about $50 o'clock, they heard Crosby
go to his wife's ROOM. In a few minutes
the two women heard loud discussion
from Mrs. Crosby's apartments though they
could not distinguish the words. Both
we're satisfied that there was family
quarrel. The discussion was suddenly
broken off by the slamming of door. The
next minute the women heard the sound of
the violent drawing of drawer, and then
came the pistol shot. They next learned of
Mr.. Crosby's death. Some of Mr.. Crosby's
friends advanced the theory that his death
was the result of sudden mental alteration,
and in support of this theory they point to
the fact that his brother committed suicide
a few years ago. This, they think. shows
a trait of insanity in the family. 1t must
be said, however, that this theory finds few
supporters among those who have init
mately known Mr.. Crosby and his wife.
The affair created great sensation last
evening. 1t was the only subject talked
about when the news became known. There
Crosby's sad death particularly among
those friends who visited the house last
evening. It is possible that the feeling of
sadness was increased by the dainty luxury
of the pretty home. Scattered about the
furnishings were bits of art
and brio brac. In one corner of the sofa
was the little girls doll and all about were
evidences of happy home life. The many
friends of the bright and popular young
man who had 80 successfully won his way
into the business world will learn of his
death with great sorrow, and they will ex-
tend boundless sympathy to his grief
stricken wife and child.
HIS CAREER IN HELENA
Mr.. Crosby's Romantic Marriage and His
Business Life.