Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-10-23
MELANCHOLIA.
Suicide of A. B. Mullett, Ex-Super-
vising Architect.
DISTRESSING SICKNESS AND REVERSES
A Legacy Of Ia Grippe Many Imposing
Public Buildings Due to Ills Concep-
ton Relatives Live In Kansas
city.

WASHINGTON, Oct a. "A. II. Mullett
one OF the best known architects of this
city and for many years Supervising
Architect Of tho Treasury Department.
shot and killed himself at his residence
last evening.
Mr. Mullett had been in poor health
for long time, suffering from rheuma'
tism and other complaints, but II Is
thought that financial trouble was the
chief cause Of his act
Last evening Mr. Mullett was feeling
poorly and his wife went down stairs to
get him some beef tea She had hardly
reached the foot of the stairs when she
heard a pistol shot and, rushing back,
found her husband gaspng for breath
with blood oozing from wound in his
head. doctor was Immediately sum-
moned, but MIR. Mullett died in few
minutes
DR. p. J. Murphy, the surgeon in
charge OF the Columbia Hospital, who
had for many years been Mr. Mulletts
family physician, stated that about five
I o'clock he was called TO the house to
sec Mrs Mullett who was slightly in
disposed. Mr. Mullett had returned
/ homo from HIS Office about $50 in the
afternoon and at the time OF the doc
/ tors visit was sitting in an armchair in
the library taking a nap. Mrs. Mullett
/ then told tho doctor that Mr.,
Mullett had for some time been
| feeling gloomy and respondent but
/ that yesterday his manner was very
hrts. ,1 fYt A far ggsrti N y
for Mrs Mullott the doctor took his
1 leave and went TO his Office just across
/ the street He had been there but a
1 short time when a son Of Mr. Mullett
came running oyer and asked him TO
come TO the house Immediately He
| hurried back in response TO the sum
mons and found Mr. Mullett lying
across the bed in his sleeping apart
ment and partially disrobed. He was
unconscious and bleeding pro'usely
The doctor made hasty examination
and found that the blood came from a
wound about two inches above tho right
ear, made by pistol ball evidently Of
small caliber. Tho ball had stsAsk .io
paretal bone. From this wound tho
brain matter was oozing The dying
man gave three or four gasps and OK
pired within seven minutes after the
wound had been inflicted.
When the doctor first entered the
room IL was filled with smoke from the
discharged pistol, and he found Mrs
Mullett lying by the SIDE Of tho body
OF her wounded husband, weeping bit
terly, with her arms thrown around his
neck Tho doctor moved her gently
rom the room, and then gave his atten-
tion to her husband
II appears that after the doctor left
the house the first time Mrs. Mullett
and her husband went upstairs TO his
bed chamber and he prepared TO rotire
Mrs. Mullett went down stairs TO obtain
some beef broth for him and it was dur
ing her absence that tho fatal shot was
fred
Later in the evening the coroner was
summoned and after an examination OF
the body gave verdict of death from
suicide due to melanchola The ro.
mains OF Mr. Mullett will probably be
taken to Cincinnati for interment
The funeral arrangements however
viii not be settled definitely until Mrs
Mullett hears from relatives OF Mr.
Mulietts who live in Kansas City
Mr.. Mullett was fifty-s years old
and was very we'll known all over tho
country. He designed many OF the pub
lie buildings that have been erected in
different cities, among them being the
New York City post-oilice and the inn
posing State, War and Navy Depart
ment buildings in this city. Since his
retirement from the Office OF Supervis-
ing Architect Of the Treasury he had
devoted most Of his time to professional
business in Washington. lie leaves a
family OF five children. four of whom
are in Washington and one in Kansas
City. His mother, two brothers and
two sisters also reside in Kansas City.
Mr. Mullett had n severe case Of the
grip last winter, from which he still
suffered For the past few months he
had been at times despondent and
gloomy. He had built several houses
recently that he cou'd not dispose Of
and this preyed on his mind
Mr. Mullett was born in England fifty
six years ago. He came to this country
when a boy and was appo nted TO a
clerkship in the Supervising Architects
office by Secretary Chase in 1862 Sub
sequently he was promoted to the posi-
tion he held until he resigned