, 1892-07-27
SUICIDE OF MAY.
Put a Revolver Bullet Into His
Brain While in His Room.

Deatm Cure1ulIY Elan n e d. H. OCtk1u n
the Doors, He Partly Undressed
and Laid Down on His Bed In the
United service Club.
NEW YORK, July 27.-The suicide of
Lieut.. Sidney H. May, of the navy, with a
revolver at the United Service club in this
city created a sensation. His last sea duty
was on the Baltimore during the recent
Ohilian trouble, and he distinguished him
self for bravery while ashore at Valparaiso,
when Seaman Riggin was martyred Since
his detachment from the Baltimore upon
her return to the United States a few
months ago Lieut. May served on the
Board of Inspection of Merchant Vessels.
Lieut.. May drove up to the entrance to
the club in a cab at about 1 o'clock Leis-
urely ascending the brown stone steps
he twirled an ornamental gold ring around
and around on the third finger Of his left
hand. He required no key to gain an en-
trance, for the wire blaze doors swung un-
locked on their hinges.
For moment he hesitated in front of a
sleeping bell-boy on the settee in the hall
third floor. In his room he took valuable
watch from his waistcoat pocket and laid
it on a table near the bed. Then he took
S35 and some change from his trousers
pocket and laid the money beside the
watch. Next, from his pistol pocket, he
took an ugly and pOnderous looking re-
volyer Of large caliber. His coat and shoes
next came off.
Then he locked the two doors leading to
his room, one from the hallway and one
from the front room facing the street. Now
came off his two shirts, disclosing a
braWny breast with a ship under full sail
tattooed thereon in India ink. Picking up
his revolver he got into bed with his trous-
ers on.
He put the muzzle of his revolver behind
his right ear, and fired.
Instantly the sleepy servants were
awake. Captain w. b. Pease, who is re-
tired from the Ninth Regiment and who
was writing a letter in an adjoining front
room, rushed into the hallway. He tried
the doors on the landing, but found them
locked. He summoned Steward LOPEZ,
who called Policeman Haughney, Of the
Thirtieth street station.
Before the policemen arrived Captain
Pease had gained entrance to Nays room,
by climbing on to an extension roof and
raising a window. He found Lieutenant
May lying on his blood-bespattered bed,
uuCOuaCAOubi buOuBu yeb breathing, ana
holding clinched in his right hand his re-
volver.
The policeman summoned an ambulance
from the New York Hospital, but DR.. EW-
ing of the club, who was in the house, was
GuiG-ty at nand. The bullet had passed
through the brain and lodged at the top of
the head. The rash officer died at 2;30
O'Clock, just One-half hour @iter sho5ting
himself
The motive for the suicide is unknown.
Although he had complained of i'll health,
Lieut.. May had always been cheerful until
within few days. He was very popular
with his brother officers of the club.
Lieut.. May was about As years old. He
was appointed a midshipman from New
Hampshire, and entered the Annapolis
academy on July %, 1854. He was pro.
NOTED to be an ensign July II, 1871, and
commissioned as a master Aug, "a, 1873
He became a lieutenant on May 9, 1878
and, altogether, had seen nineteen years Of
sea duty, nine Of his years Of service being
passed ashore.