St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-21
WAS THIS A SUICIDE?
Clark Woodman, an Omaha
Millionaire, Found Dead
in a Chicago Hotel.
No Reason Known for Self
Destruction in Family or
Business Matters.
Frank Almy, the Murderer OF
Christie Warden, Shot
and Captured.
His Hiding Place Was at His
Victims Home--Story
of the Crime.
His Hiding Place Was at His

CHICAGO, Aug. 2O-The dead body of
Clark WOodman. one of the wealthiest
citizens of Omaha, Neb., and an inf1u-
tial director in the Linseed Oil Trust,
was found this afternoon in his room at
the Grand Pacific hotel. The general
supposition is that the death was that
of a suicide. The cause for such an act
is still a most peculiar mystery, and all
the circumstances do not by any means
confirm the theory of suicide, which is,
however, strengthened by few strange
and unexplained facts. Mr.. WOodman
arrived at the Grand Pacific late last
Monday night. No one in the Office re
members seeing him after he retired to
his room at that time. On "Wednesday
the chambermaid entered the room and
found him lying across the bed fully
dressed with the exception of his coat
Hearing the sound of his breathing, she
supposed that he was merely sleeping.
She did not re-enter the room until this
afternoon. She found the body still in
the same position but the face was hor-
ribly discolored aud the odor of the
room indicated death. DR.. R. W.
Steger was at once summoned and
found that such was the case. The con-
dition of the body made plain that he
was
Breathing His Last
when seen by the chambermaid Wednes-
day night. On the table were two bot
ties, one containing ammonia and the
other spirits of camphOr. The bottles
stood on piece of hotel letter paper, Oh
which was written ''3 OF. chlOrOfOrm,
OF. ammonia" Something else had
been started below this on the paper,
but it was not completed. A stamped
and sealed envelope addressed to II. q.
Clark, Omaha, Neb., was also on the
table. The handwriting on the enve-
lope and on the bit of paper did not
correspond. Mr.. WOOdman was a
member Of the grain commission firm
of WOOdman d Harris, with offices at
e17 Rookery building. The current
rumOr this afternoon was that Mr..
WoOdman. whose estimated wealth is
in the neighborhOod of S1,000,000, had
lost large part of his fortune during
the recent rise in the prices of grain on
the board of trade. No one could be
found to confirm this rumOr. The junior
member of the firm, j. f. Harris.
claimed that, except in company with
himself, his partner never visited the
board of trade, and that even then he
did nothing outside the regular work
of the firm. Strangely enough,
however, Mr.. Harris did not know that
Mr.. Woodman was in the city until he
learned of bis death. He had not seen
him for week and presumed that he
was in New York.
81 cali imagine no conceivable reason
for suicide" said Mr.. Harris, who was
evidently greatly shocked at the event.
"Mr. WOOdman has been my partner
since 1883, and before that time l lived
at his house in Omaha. In all that time
! have learned to know and like him
thoroughly. If you were to ask any
one in Omaha for
The Happiest Family
in the city, think the first names to be
mentioned would be Mr.. and Mrs.
Clark WOodman. If death came at his
own hand it would appear impossible
that family troubles could have caused
It, and personally l know of nothing in
q business way which could have done
So" Mr. Harus's statement was con-
firmed by his brother. George B. Harris,
vice president of the Burlington rail
road, who had known the dead man
Intimately, although they had not met
for some months. The affair was deeply
regretted by all connected with the
Grand Pacific, which Mr.. Woodman
had for years made his headquarters
when away from Omaha, and where
he was universally liked. He was
tall. handsome man of about fifty-five,
with snow white hair and mOustache.
He was not drinking man. nor had he
any known disslpations. His friends
hope that, despite the circumstances,
death resulted from heart disease. If
1t was that of suicide. the letter which
he left addressed to H. G. Clark, at
Omaha may explain the mystery. Mr..
Clark Is one of his oldest friends,
wealthy citizen of Omaha, and at one
time was in that city interested with
Mr.. Woodman in a llnseed oil mill.
Other facts may, however, be developed
at the inquest which will be held to-
morrow morning. For the present, DR..
Steger, who was the physician sum-
moned, refuses to give any information
based on the condition in which he
found the body.