The morning news., 1892-03-19
JOE CUMMINGS TaAaIc pEATH.
He Shoots Himself Through the Head
With q Rife.

ne Snoots 6imseI Through the Head
With q Rife.
The family aud friends OF Joe Cumming
and the community generally were shocked
yesterday morning by the report thar he
had committed suicide by shooting himself
through the head with Winchester rife.
The news was so sudden and 30 unexpected
and the act so ounaccountsble that the report
was hardly believed at first But as il came
from the members Of the young mans
family there could be no doubt about It.
The report spread rapidly and was soon
being discussed by the acquaintances Of
! young Cumming all over the city. The
tragedy Is as yet absolutely unexplainable,
and apparently there was no cause what.
ever for the desperate act
Mr. Cumming was last seen IN the pool
room OF the De Soto. so far as known, about
midnight. He had taken supper at the
home OF a close friend of his family
and there being several other young people
present there was quite pleasant party
de was very jovial and pleasant and seemed
TO be in the best Of spirits, singing several
popular songs for the amusement of the
others. BE left the house about 1880
O'Clock, saying he was going 70 the De
Soto and would be home shortly. He met
some friends at the De Soto and engaged in
playing pool, OF which sport he was very
fond. he left the De Soto about 1l:I5
O'Clock. Nothing further is known OF his
whereabouts until he entered his room at
his mothers house, on Harris street, between
Drnyton and Abercorn streets, about
oc ock in the morning. The members OF
the family heard him enter his room, where
he seemed to To searching for something
His brother called out TO him, "What are
you looking forT but received no reply.
Shortly afterward the sound Of shot
wss heard, which aroused the members OF
the family. They rushed to his room
which was in darkness, the light having
been turned of. When the gas was lit a
terrible sight met their gaze. Almost the
whole Of the top side Of the head was torn
on. DR.. Boyd and Coroner
Dixon were sent for aud arrived
very shortly, but nothing could be done for
him. The man lived some time, however,
without speaking. From the appearance
OF the room 1t was seen that he had taken a
Winchester rife, which he had In his room,
and, taking his stand before bureau mir
ror, placed the butt OF the gun against the
bureau with the muzzle against the side Of
his head and fired, the ball taking Off almost
the whole top of his head. He had evidently
turned Off the light before firing the shot.
NO cause is assigned for the act. No note
was left giving any reason, and there is no
cause known why he should have taken his
own life.
Mr.. Cumming was about 90 years Of age
very popular young man, with numbers
OF triends he was a son OF the late
Wallace Cumming, former very highly
respected citizen of Savannah, who was for
many years In the banking business here. He
had large number of relatives and was very
highly connected He appeared TO be in the
best Of health and no financial or other en-
tAnglements are known which might have
impelled him 60 take his own life He was
OF very bright and genial disposition,
which especially endeared him to his friends,
ehouRh subject to occasional fits of
despondency.
The funeral will take place at IL o'clock
this morning from the house. The inter.
ment will be at Laurel Grove.