The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-16
THROUGH THE HEART
William H. Sanborn Shoots
Himself at the Brunswick.
DEsPoNDENcY WAS THE CAUSE
The Deed Done IN the Presence OF His
Little Brother After . Night
Spent in Dissipation.

William H. Sanborn, the 1S-year-old son
of Charles q. Sanborn, the West street
wholesale and retail grocer, shot himself
through the heart with a 38-caliber Smith
& Wesson revolver yesterday morning
at 5 o'clock, while in bed with his younger
brother. Charles, at the Brunswick hotel,
90S-9O5 Front street. He left no word that
would indicate the cause of the rash act,
and his father has no explanation to offer.
Young Sanborn has been clerk in his
fathers store and lived with the family on
the top floor of the Brunswick, of which
his father is also proprietor. In his man.
ner and department he has always won
golden opinions from those who knew
him, and when he left his father Friday
evening at $3.50 o'clock there was nothing
in his demeanor that would indicate q
resolution to do himself bodily harm. On
the contrary, his father thought him cheer
full. Sanborn, like all boys with any life,
spent an evening now and then, perhaps too
frequently, in visiting the theaters and sa-
looms. Friday night he was thus occu-
pied. and when he came home it was
nearly o'clock in the morning. Things
had not gone to suit him, and when he en-
tered room Is. where his brother lay
asleep. he had determined on his course.
The noise made in undressing aroused
Charles. who was sleeping at the back
of the bed, and he looked up drowsily
and observing who was in the room, went
to sleep again.
Suddenly sharp report was heard. and
as the little fellow sprang up almost in
voluntarily. he saw by the electric light,
which had been left burning. that Will
lam, his elder brother, was dying from .
pistol wound in the heart. The father,
who had heard the shot, had risen and
came running into the room, only to find
the deed done. his son lying on his back
gasping his last and the revolver by his
side in the left hand.
With all speed DR.. Thomas Sloan, who
has rooms in the Frye, building
was summoned but owing to his
Cling away DR.. Witherspoon was
called. He saw at glance that
the only assistance he could render was to
and took charge Of the case. The cause Of
death was apparent, and the circum-
stances precluded any suspicion of foul
play, so the death certificate was signed
and the body removed with the consent
of the father to Bonney d Stewards under
taking rooms. The course of the bullet
was traced a point two inches below the
lett nipple through the heart and out at
the scapula on the right side. The bullet
fell from the wound when the body was
raised.
Although young Sanborn's friends and
the public at large have not been apprised
of the fact, this last successful attempt dis
closes but a part of tho struggles, deep
hidden, which invariably ended in desire
to end iife For fourteen weeks he has been
respondent at times, acted as if he was in
love. and in fact, to a close friend there
were indications of a disappointment.
The first climax came February q, at 2
O'Clock in the morning, when he came
home. and before getting into bed, sat
urated handkerchief with chloroform.
Then lying down on his back he
smoo:hed the cloth over his face
and commenced breathing the deadly
drug. His brother Charles happened to
be awake while this operation vas going
on and, although afraid to speak to
William, watched his opportunity and
pulled the cloth away when he thought
him to be asleep. Mr.. Sanborn was then
awakened and DR.. Sloan called in. The
fumes OIL chloroform were strong, but the
doctor believed that it had been taken
only externally, from the little boys
story. The patient, however, failed rap
idly and before 4:30 o'clock had STONED
breathing in a natural manner Artificial
respiration was resorted to, and at
O'Clock in the morning the life of William
Sanborn had been saved. While this
was going on his mother was frantic with
grief, and the same was true yesterday.
Sanborn always denied that he took any
chloroiorm internally, but the facts spoke
for themselves, and his condition after re-
covering could not have been mistaken.
On one occasion, when a friend asked him
if there was any truth in the report that
he had quarreled with woman in the
southern part of the city, he replied that
the people would talk whether they had
anything TO say or not.
William Sanborn was born near Chi
cago and moved TO San Francisco with his
parents when quite young. About two
and half years ago he came here and has
been with his father in the store as clerk
ever since. He was manly fellow and
made friends wherever he went He leaves
a mother, father, two sisters and a brother.
His father is wealthy
Funeral services will be held at Bonney
& Stewards chapel this afternoon at 3
O'Clock. and tomorrow the remains will be
shipped TO Chicago in charge of George
TempietoD, the police officer