Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-06
A MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY.
The suicide OF julius Platt in Moline
Strange Experience of n Room.

strange Experience of a Room.
mae.
That was a strange experience of
August Johnson. room, mate of julius
Platt, whose suicide in Moline boarding
house Monday night was spoken of in
yesterdays ARGUS. Plat was discovered
dead on his bed with hole in his fore,
head from 22-caliber revolver, which
was elssped in his right hand. The Dis
patch says. his body was first seen by
August johnson, carpenter. who was
fellow ooardtr and occupied the same
room with Pratt. at about $50, when he
arose. The man had evidently laid there
dead when Johnson went TO bed at II
o'clock that night. but was not noticed by
and was about to leave the room this
morning. before the ghostly sight att
tracted his attention. Platt was last seen
alive at supper that evening about $50
o'clock. Heleft the table before the others
did. 1t is Supposed that he went to his
room Immediately afterward and seating
himself on the bed, fred the fatal shot
which took effect in the centre of his
forehead. Mr. johnson occupied bed
in the northeast corner of the room. while
that occupied by Platt stands in the north
west corner. When johnson went to
his room last night there was no light
burning, and he retired without procur-
ing one. Some say he had jag on. ;"
This morning be did not awake until
$50 o'clock and he dressed hastily in or.
| der to 90 to work, without looking across
the room. Not hearing anything of Plat
he turned as he was going out of the door
and looking back saw Plat lying on the
bed with his clothes on ard a revolver in
his right hand.
! Concluding that something was wrong
he was frightened and fastening down
stairs notified Mr.. Oberlsnder, the lsnd-
lord, of the circumstances. NJ. Oher
Ian der after going to the room and observ-
| ing Plstt's position on the bed with the
revolver in his hand, spot on his fore
head and blood covering one eye and at
his nose-went to the Peal house and
telephoned for the police. Officer Messer
went TO the place and after sscertaining
the situation of affairs, had the room
locked. and notified Coroner Halves
Platt was native of Germany and was
about 40 years os age. He has resided N
Moline off and on for more than a dozen
years, and this last time for about year
and half. For the greater portion OF
this latter time he has boarded at Ober-
ianders. He has made that his home,
keeping his trunk there when employed
and boarding elsewhere. 1t was shown
that he was single man, Though he had
been married and was divorced from his
wife who is married again and now living
cause was shown for the suicide, and
none of the witnesses had observed any
thing peculiar in his actions of late.
Platt had been in the habit of frequently
sitting on his bed in the evening reading
until he would go to sleep and fall back
ward on the bed, where he would sleep
through the night without undressing.
The body when found this morning was
in milsr position, lying across the bed
with The feet hanging down in front. On
the bed near the foot was piled several
pictures, few small articles of under
clothing TO the deceased. etc.