The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-15
ON HIS WIFE'S GRAVE.
Attempted Suicide by an
Elderly Man.
THREE BULLETS IN HIS HEAD.
Family Troubles and Dependency Over
His wife's Death Supposed to
Be the Cause.

| - An old man, fully 5s years of age, was found
| lying across green grave in Lake View GENE
| terry Yesterday afternoon. The man was hofnas
Browne, at one time quite well known in
Seattle. In the side of his head, above the right
ear, were three small holes, surrounded by pow
der-burnt marks, and from these WOUNDS the
blood flowed and mingled with bis sparse, gray
locks and elotted on the green sod OF the grave
that held his wife.
He had shot himself three times with q
twenty-five calibre revolver, the bullets enter
ing at almost the same place-but the charge
was small that the balls were not sent through
the skull into the brain. One of the balls
ranged along the skull and cut out through the
scalp again, and the other two ranged down.
ward along the scalp, one lodging just over the
left eye and the other stopped near the top OF
the forehead. The balls were cut out by Drs,
Smart and Horton and the patient will recover.
He is in room So at Providence hospital
1t is not known exactly at what time Mr..
Browne committed the deed, but it must have
been about II O'Clock, for he was found at 2,
just as he was regaining consciousness.
DR.. Smart, deputy coroner, was notified at
about 1:30 o'clock that a man had committed
suicide at Lake View cemetery, and he immedi-
ately went out to that place. He found the old
man lying across the grave OF his wife, who died
OF heart failure eighteen months ago. He ap-
peared lifeless, and all thought he was dead
Will DI SulaTt ielt Ol lis pulse duu stdtcu tnas
he was still alive. little later he came TO and
was very weak, and talked but little about his
troubles.
Browne wes quickly removed to Providence
hospital, where he submitted to the operation of
removing the bullets without being put under
the influence OF an anesthetic.
Up to the time of the great fire, two years ago,
Mr. Browne was in the employ of J. w. Hughes,
the coffee and tea merchant, and acted as his
q last fey o.
NAMED in the employ of Mr.. Hughes he was as
sisted by his son, Thomas +. Browne. who is
now In the coffee and tea business III Spokane
For ten years previous to his arrival in Seattle
Mr. Browne lived in 81. Paul and was agent for
the Union Pacific Tea Company, large New
York concern that became insolyent week ago.
When he lett Seattle, shortly after his wife's
death, he went to Spokane with his son, and it
was supposed they entered into business there
together.
Wednesday Mr.. Browne arrived In Seattle and
Immediately called upon Mr.. Hughes and had
quite talk with him. He told his former en-
ployer that he had just come from New York,
and, not seeming inclined to talk of his son or
of his Spokane affairs, Mr.. Hughes did not press
upon him any inquiries regarding those matters.
About 10 o'clock yesterday morning Mr..
Browne again called on Mr.. Hughes, but he did
not refer 10 any OF his family affairs; in fact, he
appeared in quite jovial spirits. Again Mr..
Hughes met him coming from Harrington &
Smiths dock, on the water front, at IL o'clock.
He was accompanied by another man.
Three hours later none was more surprised
than Mr.. Hughes to learn OF the attempted
suicide.
Though Mr.. Browne would talk with his
physicians regarding his injuries, he would
have nothing 70 say regarding his private
affairs.
DR.. Horton says he will be able to go around
in few days