New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-21
SUICIDE OF A. B. AUL1ETT.
THE ExsupnRvsMa ARCmTBCT OF THE
TREASURY SHOOTS MMsELF,
HIS ACT DUE 10 MELAxoHorLA-TN rrlrHnAITH
FOR LONG TINr-H1s CAREER l.

FOR A LONG Trxr-H1s CAREER l.
ws.bInrtoo. Oct. ao-A. B. Mullett. one Of
the best known architects OF this city. ana fof
many years Supervising Architect OF the treas
ury Departmeut shot himself this evening at his
home. He had been in poor health for long
time. suffering from rheumatic and other COM
plants but It is thought that financial trouble
was the chief cause of his act. This evening he
was telling Ill. and his wife went downstairs to get
him some beef tea She had hardly reached the
foot Of the stairs when she heard pisto-shot'
and. rushing back found her husband gasping Ior
breath. with the blood oozing from wound IN
his head. DR.. P. j. Murphy, the surgeon IN
charge of the Columbia Hospital, who has lor
many years peen Mr.. Mullett's family physician,
was Immediately summoned, but Mr.. Muilett oieu
in few minutes. DR.. Murphy made statemenS
of the circumstances Of the shooting, substantially
as follows:
About s o'clock be was called to the house
to see Mrs Mullett, who was slightly indispoeed'
Mr.. Mullect had returned home from his ONCE
about 2 80 O'Clock in the afternoon. and at tho
time of the doctors visit was sitting in an arm
chair in the library, taking nap Mrs. Mullett
then told the doctor that Mr.. Mullett had for
some time been feeling gloomy and despondcnt,
but that to-day his manner was bright and cheer
full. After Prescribing for Mrs. Mulett, the
doctor went to his Office, just across the street.
He had been there only short time when son oil
Mr.. Mullett came running over. and asked HIM 70
come IN the house Immediately. He hurried back
IN response to the summons, and found Mr. Mullett
living across the bed in his sleeping apartment,
and partially undressed. He was unconscious anu
bleeding profusey The doctor made a hasty
examination, and found that the blood came from
O. wound about two inches above the right ear,
made by pistol ball, evidently OF
small calibre The ball had struck the
parIetal bone. The dying man gave three or
four oasps. and died within seven minutes after
the wound had been inflicted. When the doctor
first entered the room it was filed with smoke
from the discharged pistol. 1t appears that after
the doctor left the house the first ume' M,s'
Mnllett and her husband went upstairs anu he
nrepared to 20 to bed. Mrs. Mullett went do"h-
stairs to get some beef broth for him. ana IL was
during her absence that the fatal shot was hreo'
Later in the evening the Coroner was SUM-
moned, and, after an examination OF thc pooS
gave verdict Of death from suicide due 70 mel
anchola The body Of Mr.. Mullett VIII probably
be taken to Cincinnati for burial The funeral
arrangements, however, will not be settled uen'
nitelv until Mrs Mullett hears from brother
of Mr. Mullett's who is at present In Kansas Clty
Mr.. Mullett was ffty-six years old, ana was
we'll known all over the country. lie designed
many Of the public buildings that have oeeh
erected in different cities, among them being the
New-York City Postofice and the imposing state
War and Navy Department building in this ci'y
Since his retirement from the office Of SUPERVISING
Architect of the Treasury Mr. Mullett has devoted
most of his time to professional business in wash
inrton. Mr.. Mullett leaves family Of five chill
dren. four of whom are In Washington, and one
In Kansas City. His mother, Two Two oro'heiS "n'
two sisters also live in Kansas City.
Mr. Mullett had severe case OF the grip
last winter, from which he was still suffering
For the last few months he has Deen az Ime, h,;,,
several houses that he could not dispose of, and
this preyed upon his mind. Mrs. Mullett is com,
plctefy prostrnted by the severe Shock ana Is
under medical treatment.