The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-26
Frank J. Curtin. Purser of the
Umatilla. Kills Himself.
MRS. RAYMOND MIGHT EXPLAIN.
He Had Been C Careusing With Woman
Who Cannot BE Found.
kx-eonSressmaa Iard Killed and Mrs.
a. r. Cook. Of Seattle. Badly Tssiarea
in a Train Wreck at Butse-The Port
land sleeper Teieseored.

Say FEsycEsco. Jan. 2S.-FSptc!as The
body Of Prank ]. Curtin. purSer of she
steamer Imatilla. Is as the naor-,,e. lie
shot himself through the head in hls
staieroom on board the steamer last night
Shortly after 10 O'Clock las; night Curtin,
IN company With woman. alighte5 from
coape az the Broadway dock Walking
down the wharf together. they passed up
the gang plank of the Tm9tilla and en-
tered the paTSeras roosu. os the poTt side
ofShe vessel. They remained there about
twenty minutes. The couple then left the
steamer and Curtin placed the woman in
the coupe, bidding her good night in a
pleasant tone of voice Tie coupe drove
OF. and Curtin stood for few minutes
talking pleasantly with the second Officer
of the steamer Santa Cruz. Going hack 10
his vessel he entered his room and closed
the door and pulled up the wooden shutter
of the window
He had not been in the room more than
shree minutes when the watchnaan and
the customs officer on duty on the UIaa-
tisia heard the sound of giSlo! shot
Running 10 Cartin's reosn they found
the door locked from the outside. The
waschman dropped the window and shut
ter. and reaching into the door latch. un-
fastened il.
Curtin was found lying q, fun length on
the floor. with his hes0. from which blood
was pouring, resting ON the ioor-mat.
The weapon with which he aad shot HIM
self was lying on ;ne washsgand in the
nooua. where il had dropped from his hand.
He had evidently stood near the wash
stand, and looking III the mirror
over il. taxing careful aim he
fore firing a bullet into his hesd.
The ball passed clear through his
head, entering at the right temple, which
WAS powier-barned. snd passing OF. at
the left temple. The frontal bones were
crushed TO splinters. The ballet, after
passing through his head. struck in s
picture frame in the room. The weapon
was a Ss-calibe< doable-action pistol of
American make. A careful search of the
room was made BY Sergeant Helms, Of the
north harhoT police, but no letters or evil
dence of any kind, which nigh; furnish a
reason for the suicide. could be found.
The police pstrol Wagon was sent for.
and Curtin. who was not vet dead, was
taken 10 the receiving hospital. His case
was pronounced hopeless. lie was un-
conscious, though breathing heavily. but
in about twenty-five minutes after being
laid on the operating table died. In his
pockets were found, besides mis- watch aud
chain and pocket knife. nothing but a few
visiting eaEds containing his name and
those Of friends.
The identity of the woman who accom-
panied Curtin 10 the steamer is 3 mystery.
IL is known, however. that q middle-aged
woman wearing sealskin cloak came here
ON the last voyage of the UElatilla from
Victoria and northern ports, and that Cur
tin was very attentive 10 her aboard the
ship. On Friday night Curtin and
woman answering the description of the
Umasilla's passenger attended the Bush
street theater. They were met by Rome
Harris proprietor of the Laurel Palace So
loon. and at the conclusion Of the
play Curtin introduced Harris 10 the wo-
man. 4 few minutes later Curtin and the
woman visited the Laurel Palace, at the
corner of Bush and kearney streets. Har-
RS states that the woman appeared 20 he
trying 10 get nd Of Curtin. who was some
what under the influence of liquor.
Finally Harris rented room for Curtin
in a clearinghouse over the saloon. bat
when he returned 10 the saloon Curtin
and the woman had departed in . coupe.
While tire couple We're in the saloon the
woman told Harris that she was guest of
the Lick house. A partner of the man
who drove the coupe stated that they were
conveyed TO the Lick house, but the clerk
refused 10 allow them 10 remain IN the
hotel. so they re-entered the coupe and
Curtin ordered the driver 10 take them 20
the Cliff house. Curtin became noisy in the
course and threatened 10 break the window
flanes. and the driver was compelled 10
threaten him with violence 70 subdue him.
Then Curtin ordered the driver To take
them 10 the Sutter Street house. The
couple were taken there and the coupe
dismissed. The clerk OF the Snt:er Street
house remembers assigning them 10 room
81. ard they were there when he left and
al Is o'clock yesterday morning.
The night clerk of the Lick house saws
a man answering in every particular the
description of Curtin accompanied
guest, Mrs. A. Raymond, Of Victoria, to
the hotel on Friday night Mrs. Raymond
taIsies with the description of the middle
aged woman with the sealSkin sacque.
The man secured her key from the
Office and accompanied her 10 room
aSi. The clerk. knowing they were not
married. sent 8 bellboy 70 watch them. In
about ten minutes the man left. but Mrs
RAYMOND remained IN the Motel Rome
Harris last night saw the name Mrs A.
RAYMOND on the Lick house register. and
was almost positive that was the name OF
the woman 20 whom Curtin introduced
him. Mrs. Raymond left the hotel yeSter-
dav morning, and her present whereabouts
i unknown