The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-30
AN UNFORTUNATE ENDING.
Suicide Of Mr.. Stephen Elliott, Jr.,
at the Lower Press.

Sent a Bullet From a Winchester
Through His Brain 49, Disheartened
and Melancbolic From Overwork, He
Felt Life a Burden-A Sad Ending of
a Noble Character - Worked His
Way Up From CLERK to Assistant
General Manager of the Press-His
Funeral to Be Attended by the
Guards in a Body.
Mr.. Stephen Elliott, Jr, committed sui
eide yesterday morning between $50 and
9 o'clock in his Office at the Lower
Hydraulic press. He killed himself by
blowing his brains out with a 3S-caliber
Winchester rife.
Mr.. Elliott was assistant general mana
ger of the press and went down to his
work yesterday morning about the usual
hour. He had been in the office scarcely
half an hour before the deed was com
united He walked into the ONCE as
usual, went to the locker and put up his
overcoat and umbrella. He then went to
his desk without changing his coat as is
customary and sent the two clerks in the
Office out on errands. He also asked the
Waterman to go out and tell one Of the
negro servants he wanted TO see him. This
left the Office clear.
NO ONE SAW IT.
AS the watchman left the Office Mr..
Elliott walked over to the locker where
his gun was kept The door was shut and
no one was very near at the time, which
probably accounts for the report not be-
ing heard, but when the watchman re
turned he found Nj. Elliott lying on his
in f~npf ~ fhp fO.I-pp wi n n
tightly clutched in both hands, and blood
flowing from a CHASTITY wound in his
head
From his position it seemed that he had
sat down on the floor of the locker, the
door of which was found open, clasped
the barrel of the gun with his left hand,
the trigger with his right. and placing
the gun 10 his right temple. fired The
bullet was found lodged in the ceiling of
the locker. His brains were blown out
and scattered on the wall OF the locker
and on the floor, he having fell forward
after firing the shot. He must have car
ried the cartridge with which he did the
work down to the Office with him, as the
clerks all say there were no cartridges in
the gun yesterday.
THE CORONER AND FRIENDS NOTIFIED.
Coroner Dixon and the friends of Mr..
Elliott were notified Of his death at once.
The body was not disturbed until after
the coroner arrived. 1t was found lying
on the floor in the position described, the
gun being so tightly clasped in both hands
that it was removed with di1iculty.
Coroner Dixon took charge of the body
and all the evidences of the suicide, taking
the bullet also from the wall above.
The body was taken to Coroner Dixon's
office, where il was prepared for burial,
and was afterwards taken to the resi-
dence OF the deceased, at No. 1872 Harris
Atrppt No inuupgt WAS held
Before the shooting Mr.. Elliott wrote
letter 10 his wife, which was found pinned
to his coat. The note was a short one in
which he stated that he felt he was re-
lapsing into his former state and ne
thought it best TO put himself out Of the
way.
CAUSE FOR THE SUICIDE.
The cause for Mr.. Elliott's action is
supposed to have been indirectly a tenn
porary mental alteration, brought on by
overwork in attending closely to his
duties at the press day and night, beside
other affairs in which he was interested.
For the past ten DAYS, or two weeks.
Mr.. Elliott had seemedquite cheerful, and
1t is only within the last two or three days
that he has become melancholy, and in
cllned to be somewhat discouraged. Some
time ago he invented an automatic LITTER
which has been found very seryiceable
IN its application to congresses. Later
he was working on what he called an
automatic ire eXtlnguisher, which was
to be operated by electricity to be started
by the melting of fusible wires or plugs
In case of fire. To this he gave much of
his time and attention when not occupied
with his work at the press. Constant
study and thought over this is thought to
have affected his mind
HARD WORKER.
Mr.. Elliott was hard worker and a
man of many noble traits of character
He was educated at Sewanee Tenn, and
was about "a years Old, having been born
in Savannah in 1859. He was of kind and
cheerful disposition. A change in his
disposition was noted about year aeo
by his friends, ogerwork having had its
effect, making him appear At. times in a
troubled and melancholy mood. He was
a highly esteemed member of the Savan-
nah Volunteer Guards and of the Ogle-
thorpe Club.
Mr.. Elliott was a son of Mr.. Stephen
Elliott, of this city, and a grandson of
Bishop Elliott. His mother was Miss
Chetwoode, of New Jersey He married
Miss Retta Hartridge, daughter of
Mai. Julian HarJridge She and two
young children survive him His brother
Mr.. ChetwOode Elliott, of Newark. n. j.
was telegraphed yesterday morning. and
may be here in time to attend the fun
eral
The funeral will take place from Christ
church this afternoon at 4 O'Clock The
services will be conducted by Rev Robb
White. The funeral will be attended by
the. Savannah Volunteer Guards corps in
body.
LIGHT FRosTs EXPECTED.
The Cold Wave Eas Diminished in Tn