The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-10
FIVE SUICIDES AT ST. LOUIS
Judge Normile, Goadad to. Desperation
by Newspaper Criticism, Ends His Life.
He Intended to Kill an Editor, but Changed His
Mind and Took Poison Himself-Two Doc
tors Depart by the Pistol Route.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. GA most startling cli-
max to the action for libel recently begun
by Judge James G.. Normile, of the st.
Louis Criminal Court. against the Post
Dispatch of this city, an evening paper.
came this forenoon q little before IL o'clock,
in the suicide of Judge Normile, at his res
idence. No. 1922 Washington avenue. Crit
icism of tho administration of Judge Nor
miles court was precipitated recently by
q sudden division in the grand Jury acting
under him, eight Of It's members alleging
that four had combined to prevent the in
dictment of persons with pull" The
matter was brought before Judge Normlle,
through communications from the contend
ing factions, and the Judges conduct in
the matter led to charges and criticism on
the part of the Post Dispatch which cul-
minated in tho Judge bringing suits for
sums aggregatinR S400, 900 against the paper
attacking him, and also instituting Grim
inal libel actions against three of the pa
per's responsible editors-Florence d.
White chief. and Samuel d. Williams
and George S. Johns, assistants-there
being six counts in each warrant.
After this action Judge Normils
left the city for q short rest.
Returning ay or two since he appeared
yesterday before . master appointed to
take dispositions in his libel auits. He was
disturbed by tho close, sharp questioning
and the tilts between the coutending coun-
sells However. no one thought OF any
serious effect upon tho Judges mind and
the news this forenoon of his suicide Was q
thorough surprise to every one sInvesti-i
CATION showed, however. that the recent
occurrences and criticisms had SO borne
upon the mans mind that he could endure
1t no longer. A note unsigned, but in the
Judges chirography and written without
hesitation, erasure or lnterlineatiop. con-
tanned tho statement that he had this
morning determined not TO kill Florence
ID. White. whose paper had criticised, az
he felt, unjustly the administration of his
court Preferring suicide to murder and
seeing no other course. he had determined
upon the former. taking poison. Judge
Normile had been down town during the
morning but returned homo shortly after
10 O'clock. Before IL he was found in rigor
mortis, showing that whatever the poison.
1t was very powerful.
AS If the atmosphere were laden with
suicidal mania. four more suieides were re-
ported in quick succession. DR.. Walter b.
Coles. medical examiner for the Mutual
Life Insurance Company, having an Office
in the Bank of Commerce building, shot
himself to death. the cause being an incura-
BILE disease. At his Office at Third and Mar
ent and ''out of luck" shot himself fatally.
Two moro violent deaths of residents OF
the South End also occurred at about the
same hour. William Gray shot himself
dead before his wife, who refused his plea
for a withdrawal of her divorce suit Henry
Habermill ended his life with poison, de-
spondency over separation from his wife
being the cause