The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-04
HIS SUICIDAL HAND.
That Was the FOotpad Which
Shot Tallmadge.
HE IS A MELANCHOLY LOVER.
True Story Of the Beacon Hill Shooting
He vainly Sought Birdie
McClannahan's Hand.

L. J. Tallmadge, the young man who
claims to have been shot by highway
man On Beacon Hill Saturday night. is
resting easily at Providence hospital. The
ball, which entered the right temple and
passed around over the right eye, was re-
moved from his head last evening by DR..
Rufus III. Smith, and his chances tor re-
covery are good.
The young fellow tells several different
stories concerning the manner in which he
was shot; but it is believed by the detec-
tives and those who are acquainted with
him that he fired the shot himself with
intent to commit suicide. The right
temple, surl oundlng the hole made by the
bullet, is powder burnt, and this tell-tale
evidence strengthens this theory. 1t is
also said that he has been violently in love
with young woman named Birdie Nc
Clannahan and that, because she refused
to receive his attentions, he became de-
spondent and, while in this mood, made
the attempt on his own life.
Tailmadge is a son of Charles L. Tall
madge, the West Street house runner who
gained much notoriety six months ago by
claiming to be a brother of Rev. 7. De-
Witt Talmage, claim that preacher
effectually disposed of. He is q printer
by trade, and arrived in Seattle last Octo-
Der from Milwaukee, Wis. For time he
was employed by t. ]. McClannahan.
proprietor of the Boston house, at 124
Main street, and while there became ac-
quainted with Birdie McClannahan, q
good-looking daughter of the proprietor.
1t is said that he forced his attentions on
the young woman with Indifferent success.
and suddenly discovered that he had a
dangerous rival in the person of James
Hyperion, better known as 1.-THE Spider"
runner for the st. Charles hotel. He i'm
mediately challenged his rival to a fight,
and the couple met on the
'field of honor" a back alley. and
went at it with their fists. In a
very few minutes Hyperion was badly
whipped man, but before the victor could
communicate the good news to the object
of his affections he was arrested by Officer
Sam Corbett and taken to Jail. He was
tried, and in default OF payment of fine
remained in Jail three days.
At the expiration of his sentence he
called on Miss McCiannahan, but the
young woman held aloof and treated him
coldly. When her father learned that
Tallmadge was in the house he was very
angry and said:
ANY man who licked 1.-THE Spider"
can't stay under my roof"
So the young fellow was told to 60. He
still had his room in the house, however,
and the following day he returned. Pass
ing the Office he caught sight of Mr.. Nc
Clannahan and said:
az say, Mac, lend me your knife"
OF Hni nd
went directly to his room. He returned
the hall toward the kitchen, where Miss
McClannahan and her mother and several
other women were at work. When he
reached the kitchen door he reeled and al
most fell. The women stared at him, and
he exclaimed as he held his hand to his
left breast and staggered about:
'The Spider has done it; he has fixed
me this timep'
He removed his hands from his breast
and the women were Mortified to see that
not only his hands but his shirt was
bloody. He reeled down the hallway and
made his way to his room. The women
were greatly excited, but an examination
of the wound resulted in the discovery
that there was simply slight abrasion of
the skin.
Tallmadge then took up his abode at the
St. Charles hotel, and was employed as
night runner Those who know him say
that he was continually respondent and
given to having fits of 'the blues" This
melancholy eliminated Saturday night,
when he staggered into the hotel at II
O'Clock covered with blood, and declaring
that he had been shot by highwayman.
Just after the young man left the hotel,
early Saturday evening, the night clerk
missed revolver which was kept in the
office. About 1 O'Clock in the morning,
after Tallmadge had been removed to the
hospital, the clerk was astonished to find
it in its old place. 1t was muddy and
three chambers were empty.
Detective Cudihee, who has been work
ing on the case, believes that the young
man is not well balanced mentally. Wish
ing to get at the facts of the case, he yes
terday sent man who knew Tallmadge to
the hospital to talk with the young fellow.
The wounded man was quite confidential,
and said that as he was getting on car at
the corner of Jackson and Eleventh streets
O man shot him; he didn't know what for.
He told the detective moment later
that he was shot on Beacon Hill, and
that part of his story is srue, for the con-
ductor and motor man of the last car
which left the hill for the city about II
O'Clock say that at a point directly east of
the Bay View brewery their car was
stopped for young man who was muddy
and covered with blood. The young man
was Tallmadge. He rode all the way in
on the car, but declined to inform the con-
ductor how he was hurt. 1t never oc-
Cured to the conductor that he was shot.
1t will be week or more before Tall
madge can leave the hospital.
Disease No Longer Spreading.
LONDON, April S.-Chaplin, president of