The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-07
A BULLET IN HIS HEAD.
George u. HOuSt0uR Suicides by Shoot
Ing in The Pulaski House.

III Health and Dependency the Cause
of the Rash Aet-He Planned His
Death For DAYS and Then Lay Upon
the Floor of His Room and Blew Out
His Brains-Dead Several Hours
When Discovered.
Driven 10 desperation with an incur
able neuralgia trouble, almost to the verge
of insanity. George VI. Houstonu, one of
savannah popular and wcll-kuown citi-
zens yesterday ended his life troubles
with a bullet.
The suicide occurred in room No, % of
the Pulaski House. where the unfortunate
man had made his home for months. II
is supposed Mr. Houstoun killed himself
about Q o'clock, but the discovery was not
made until noon
Day before yesterday Mr. Houstoun com
planned many times to his friends about
the hotel that the pain in his head was
almost driving him crazy and said he
feared the i'll would require some des-
perate remedy Still he did not hint at
suicide, although that was probably the
desperate remedy to which he referred in
his conversations. From the discussion
Of his ailuent ne drifted into talk about
the Central railroad situation and referred
TO having lost large amount of his COM
potency in the roads securities. He had
no hope of ever recovering anything, and
took the gloOmiest view of affairs.
DELIBERATING on SUICIDE.
Mr.. Houstoun must have decided upon
cutting his life short considerably in ad-
vance of the time he selected for the act
Several days ago he said to Proprietor
L., ~
to a query, If he did not prefer to make
a monthly arrangement for his board,
that he did not think he would stay long
with anybody Wednesday, after draw
ing Il check at his bank. MIR. HOustoun
left his passbook with the remark
that he desired to leave the
book with the bank for fear it might be
lost. These things would indicate that
he was preparing for the tragedy with
elaboration.
Wednesday night he remained about
the hotel corridor chatting with his
friends until 10 o'clock, when he retired.
At 63O O'Clock yesterday morning he
rang for the bell boy and asked for the
MORNING News. The last time he was
seen alive was when the bell boy handed
him the paper.
THE INDICATED SHOT.
About 8 O'Clock those in the corridor of
y
port, and several hurried into the street
to see if anybody had fired a pistol. Not
being able to locate it those who heard
the sound made up their minds that it
was caused by something falling and
paid no more attention to the matter.
That sound, however, was undoubtedly
Mr.. HOustOun's death knell
One of the chambermaids opened the
door of his room about noon to make up
the bed but the sight of an Outstretched
body on the floor and blood scattered In
every direction, caused her to turn back
in terror She hurried downstairs and
notified the Office, and Clerk Fear went to
the room to investigate. He found Mr..
HOustoun lying on his side with his head
resting in a pool of blood and brains, with
large now revolver Clasped firmly in his
right hand.
DEAD HOURS BEFORE DISCOVERY.
A large ugly hole in his head over the
right ear showed where the leaden mes
senger Of death had entered. The stiffen-
ing of the body evidenced that MIR. HOus-
toun had been dead for several hours, and
the nature of the wound left
no doubt that death had been instantan-
eous.
Acting Coroner Naughtin was sent for,
and after viewing the body, he decided
an inquest unnecessary and gave a per-
nit for its removal. Mr.. Houstoun S rela-
tives were notified and they had the body
taken TO Capt DixOn'S undertaking par
lors, where it was prepared for burial.
The funeral will take place this morning,
at O'Clock, and the intermeut will be in
the family lot in Bonaventure.
The news of the suicide spread rapidly
throughout the city, and brought forth
expressions of regret on all sides from the
friends Of MIR. Houstoun, who was exceed
ingly popular on account of his high char
acter, unassuming and gentlemanly man
ners. The deceased was brother of the
late DR. J. p. S HOustom and was a ma
tive of Lakeland, near Tallahassee, Fla,
but had lived in Savannah since boy
hood. He was in his 45th year.