The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-29


Some excitement was caused yester.
day morning when It became known
that William aIcCombs, of the Island,
formerly atraveling salesman connected
with tho local hardware firm, Greer g.
Laing, but until his death in tho EN-.
ploy Of the George Worthington Com
pany Of Cleveland, had shot himself at
a room in the st. Charles Hotel.
About $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning
the chambermaid Of the establishment
heard two shots ring out from room 10,
which had been occupied the previous
night by McCombs. The girl became
frightened and screamed. Persons in
the Office on the first floor, among them
Gilbert Russell and William Martin,
heard the shots and the girls cry, and
hastened up stairs. They at once en-.
tered tho room and found McCombs,
who is man Of about fifty years Of age,
lying on the floor in front OF looking
glass, dead. A smoking revolver lying
near by told the talo silently but truly.
He had evidently stood in front Of the
glass and coolly aimed the pistol at his
right temple. The second shot can only
be explained in one way: as he fell, the
revolver, by reason Of the involuntary
clutching OF the, hand, had again eX-
pioded. Death was instantaneous and
certainly without pain. Police officers
and the county coroner, Squire Schultze;
were summoned to the scene aud an In
vestigution made. The coroner gave q
verdict in accordance with the facts:
death by suicide. The body was later
in the day removed to the undertaking
establishment Of County Undertaken
Altmeyer, on the South Side.
The reason for the bloody deed is
easily ascertained; intemberance and
business troubles. McCombs,' -thopgh.
not habitually a hard drinker, oCca!
sionally got on sprecs. Some time ago
he was at Hinton, in the lower part OF
the state, and while there got drunk
and neglected his business affairs.
After he had finally Strengthened up
and left tho place, man named ALI.
son, who keeps n saloon there, informed
McCombs that he owed liquor bill OF
nearly Sl00. McCombs made no effort
to defend himself, and in consequence
Judgment was entered against him.
He then secured the services OF an at
torney, Mr.. ]. B. Somerville who had
no trouble in having the judgment dis
missed. The Hinton party had the
case appealed, and it was to have been
heard yesterday morning before Judge
PAUL. In fact, at the time when Me-
Combs had just ended his life, ho was
being waited for in court. This, of
course, had q bearing on the condition
OF his mind.
He left his home on tho Island early
Wednesday morning, about 4 o'clock,
and was never seen by his family again.
lie told them he had to 20 to Bridge
port on business. During the day he
came to town, and was drinking consid-
erably. In the afternoon he was at tho
st. Charles. Here some OF the employees
who knew him gave him room and
he then went 10 bed. Shortly after 4
o'clock yesterday morning he arose and
soon after went to the Stamm hotel,
where no conversed with the night
clerk, Joe thinner. While there he
wrote letter, which he enclosed in an
envelope. 1t was about s o'clock when
he returned to the st. Charles, and 60
ing up to his room shot himself. The
letter which was found there was ad-
dressed to ]. B. Sommerville. and was
written on the back OF o railroad bill of
lading. 1t was as follows:
The George IVorthtn7,on CompaaG
See jenkins at tire union depot, Pitts
burgh: he has my samples.
j. D. SOmmapne. Attorney:
See what you can make out of my life
Policy in the home life of New York.
All other matters settle for the benefit
ofmy family and yourself.
WILLIAM MoCoMBs.
AIcCombs leaves wife and three Ehil.
dren. The older son is David MIC Combs,
who travels for Pittsburgh hardware
house. lie was telegraphed to at SIS
tersville and came to the city last night.
Tho dead man was one of the best
travelling statesmen on the road. and his
record with tho Worthington Company
issaid to have been extraordinarily good.
- ,5ls Il GOV