The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-09
SUICIDE OF AN INVENTOR.
II u Palmer FOUND DEAD IN HIS
ROOM At A HO1EL.
He HAD, HAD Tee M,n.,,r SO Tbs. III. MONT.

He Had Tied Himself SO That His Month
Wouid He Held Just Over the Gas Jet-A
Long Communication Addressed 10 tn Q
Mayor ON the suhi-et or Rapid Transit.
+. J. Palmer. civil engineer OF Chicago. was
found dead In his room at Smith & Mcneil
HOTEL 100 Washington street, yesterday after
noon. He had killed himself by inhaling gas.
The keyhole and cracks about the door had
been stopped up with clothing. A light over
coat was hung over the only window The
body was lying on the washstand behind the
door. supported bya strap passed under tho
arms and fastened to the transom bar. Pal
mer had pulled the washstand over to the
door. and placed some pillows on 1t SO as to
bring his head to level with the gas jet.
which was just behind the door.
Then be mounted the pillows and strapped
himself tightly to the transom bar with a long
trunk strap. He put his mouth over the gas
Jet and turned on tho gas. The strap kept
him from falling when he became too weak to
keep himself up. and when he was found his
mouth was still open over the gas let
Palmer seems to have been an enthusiast on
arc staying ct the hotel say that he has been
projects to everybody who would listen.
=, On the bureau Of the room were four letters.
written with a lead pencil on the inside Of an
eenvelope addressed to go. J. Palmer. care Of
L.
York." and read as follows.
prefer ,p to die because cannot support and have
Nay COD p1 @s fs cr sna on
d PS'fn ta sShsEss and no! having known and
mo to this sad end.
One Of the three sealed letters was addressed
IShn Palmer Jr 50 Ens s, sGuare
to be the suicides brother. The other. two
seen betb to have and IL them
Whitehead counsellor at law, office room 81,
Erening. I'oit building. 20y broadway. Resi-;
Several valises filled with clothing. all Of good
quality. were also found in the room
All the effects were t IemGved to the Church
brother; Jaw 81 the dead man, and that
both town. and Mr. ' sa Hf5s
was going at once to them. He said there had
Mr.. Palmer. he said. lived in Chicaro. and had
;, It was learned last night, that the wife and
long Island G Hseh william W Mi g. s
n. who in 1892 was commander OF the League
M Island Navy Yard. Is said to be brother OF
Among the papers left by the suicide was a
date june !. 1858. addressed to Mayor Giiroy.
trans 1ersh sw an Sytsm OF apd
In the letter Mr. Palmer said that he had
been been associate member OF the Institute OF
Of the American Society OF Civil Engineers OF
New York. Twenty months ago he returned
from, Mexico. having been emp!oy as ma
terlal and purchasing agent in the construc-
ton of the Mexican Northern Railway.
He said that he was manager of the United
States Rapid Transit Construction Company.
which was Incorporated in ii nG Ian and had z
would soon be raised to .S10.OO0.O00. This
company. he said. controlled 60 per. cent Of
the entire rapid transit patent appliances in
the United States. which he expected to ex-
hibit at the Worlds Fair.
Walter McMulen threw himself from the
fifth floor of 400 West Twenty sixth street
at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and died a
few hours later at the New York, Hospital.
McMullen was II years old. and was en-
ployed in a cracker factory. He had been
drinking heavily: John McPack. who was in
the room when MeMullen jumped. gave this
account Of the suicides:
He said to me. Say. John. Pm going to
commit suicide. I'm tired OF living; I'm sick
and can't sleep at night any more He then
showed me an American bulldog revolver
which he said he had Just bought and with
as he could BUY cartridges. Suddenly he threw
away the revolver. walked over to the window.
threw open the blinds. and said. WE'LL John.
here goes. Before l could reach him he had
thrown himself out Of the window"