, 1890-11-29
WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OFT

1850
mans motive2' There we're theories and
theories, some OF them plausible, some OF
them ridiculous. There was one theory
which received no ccHntenAuce and that
related to 4 possible shortage in Judge
Bergman's accounts. Judge Bergman,
unasked, assured Henry Altman that
everything at the office is straight as a
string" What then was the cause2.
When asked by Mr.. Whitcomb why he
did it. he simply replied that he wanted
to get out Of his trouble and misery.
What all this trouble and misery was
furnishes food for speculation.
There is no difference of opinion that
Judge Bergman was lAborinE under a
Temporary alteration Of mind when he
shot himself. He was one Of the last men
in the world to be pitched upon to Go such
a deed. Aggressive by nature, self reli
ant. intellectually alert. with the courage
OF a lion, be WAS not the man, in his nor
NAL physical condition, to quail from the
consequences Of his own acts and face the
world it he believed he was right But
he WAS not in his normal physical condi
ton. For q year or more his friends have
noticed decided change in him. In aD-
pearance he was Just the sane put there
was Il peculiar constraint in his manner, a
something back Of his actions which
showed that it was inward and not out
ward things that were influencing him.
Judge Bergman for years enjoyed su-
perb health. He was n tremendous
worker and found his recreation in the
seyerer duties OF life. He was intense in
his convictions, in his likes and his dis
likes. In addition to his physical en-
durance he possessed a mind that was
marvelously active. Whom he became
interested in a subjsct he soon became alb
sorbed in it. For years he was the 40.
knowledged leader of the Republican
party in Laramie county-in TACT, he may
be called its creator. In politics as 10
business and In the study Of law in its re-
lations to the affairs of state, county and
city governments. he was animated by 4
resistless energy. backed by a big brain
which rapidly seized principles and a Wig
orous mind which readily applied them.
During a political campaign he was the
marvel of all his friends. For thirty or
forty days he apparently never slept
At every hour Of the night and every
hoar OF the day Bergman was always on
hand. alert. wAtchful and energetic In
business he worked with the same IN
reasoning assiduity. This incessant strain
has undoubtedly told upon his nervous
system. perhaps almost unknown to him
self In addition. there have been the
cares and trr~ilos incident to the cattle
hrciness, 10 which he was heavily inter
estei for a number OF years. 1t is also
said that he was cheated out Of his share
of his fathers estate by his brother and
sister-money not intended for himself,
but for his wife and daughter. Being
naturally a mar who kept his own ooun-
sells, these matters worked upon his mind,
and undoubtedly led up to 4 morbid con-
dition.
His contest over the possession of tho
probate court records undoubtedly capped
the climax of his troubles Judge Berg
man had the intensest conviction of his
rights in the matter. He believed that
one Office carried With it the other, and
Was e~ntrenched IN his position by eminent
legal advice received both at home and
from attorneys in Colorado and Nebraska
Backed as be thus was. he felt that In
justice to himself he could not surrender
the records Of the Office until the merits
of the case were regularly passed upon in
the courts. When Judge Scott gave
him until a Friday afternoon to consider
the matter, and then commenced pro-
cecdings on Thursday evening, there
were no bounds to the indignation
felt and expressed by Judge Berg.
man. He felt that he was being
summary treated, that the court had
broken faith with him aud imagined that
back Of it all was a deep laid conspiracy
by some OF his old party associates to hu-
initiate him in the eyes OF the people.
Then again the fact that be was sentenced
IN the district court before he was asked
what be had t. say "a right, he asserted,
never denied even the basest oriminaD cut
him to the quick and moved him to indig
Dant tears upon a later reference to it.
From this time forward Bergman viewed
everything in an exaggerated hight. His
constructive imprisonment weighed hoay-
lily upon him. he felt that n victim Was
needle for the sacrifice and he had been
selected. He seemed to lose faith in the
sincerity Of his friends and he constantly
brooded over his troubles. Naturally
proud Of his honor and his good name
he felt debased and ~dishonored.
His help!essaess and hopelossness finally
10 preyed upon his morbid mind as TO
arouse him to a pitch of frenzy that
reached the bounds Of madness and he
shot himself.
Hundreds of hearts beat warmly for
The stricken, suffering and unfortunate
nan and sincerely hope that the future,
which now looks 30 cherries and unfor-
bidding to him, may yet have in it some
pleasures and even triumphs, SO dear to
his active mind.
GOVERNOR WARREN tells a Denver
Republican reporter that Secretary
Barber will be governor of Wyoming tor
the next two years, and Col. Downey at a