The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-11
WEARY OF CONTINUED ILL HEALTH.
Henry F. DiIIman Takes His Pistol
and Kills Himself.
The Ex-Chief of Police Ends His Life
Suddenly in His Front.
Street Saloon.

Henry F. (better known ~ 'Hank'')
Dillman suddenly ended his life about
O'Clock last evening in the saloon at
Front and 1 streets OF which he was the
proprietor.
A moment. prior thereto ex-Police
Judge Henry l.. Buckley and Doc
tor" J. S. Curtis, two of his warmes
and closest friends, entered the saloon.
Noticing that Dillman seemed pale and
in reflective mood, Mr.. Buckley said to
him:
Hank, join US in drink"
"All right. Judge. l WILL" responded
Dillman, but it'll be my last |"
Mr.. Buckley tried to laugh away the
remark and told Dillman there was no
use in talking that way. The latter
stepped behind the bar, waited on his
picked up big pistol which he kept be-
hind the bar, placed it to his head and
said:
We'll, good-by everybodyw
Seeing that there was something wrong
with the man, and fearing that he might,
in his frenzy. turn the weapon on them,
the men in the saloon ran to the door.
They had barely got outside before they
heard the report OF the pistol, and return
ing they found Dillman lying on his face
behind the bar and just breathing his
last.
q. Clark, the bartender, said he tried to
prevent Dillman from shooting, but the
latter would not let him come near.
The bullet entered his head about an
inch above and a little in front of the
right ear, crashed through the brain and
emerged on the left side, and then passed
through one OF the panes OF glass In the
door at the end of the bar. The skull
was terribly crushed by the bullet.
Several persons who saw and talked
with Mr.. Dillman within an hour of the
time he fired the fatal shot say he ap-
peared to be in his usual good spirits,
while others say they had noticed that he
appeared to be in quiet and reflective
mood.
A short time before he committed the
deed he left the saloon, went upstairs to
his apartments, and while there told his
wife she would hear from him in half an
hour.
Henry Balsz, brother-in-law of Mr..
Dillman, says the latter had been subject
to epileptic fits for five years. He
would some times have two or three
fits in day, and then none for some
weeks. He could not tell when they
were coming, and had no premonitions.
He has been treated for this epilepsy for
some years.
Several times, the last being three
months ago, he hads said he would not
live to have any more attacks. and that
he would take his life, as the disease was
affecting his brain. He told Mr., Balsz
some three months ago that he would put
an end to 1t, and he at that time put q
pistol to his head, but Balsz snatched it
from him. Generally it was not sup
posed that he suffered from melancholla,
but as a matter Of fact he had many de-
spondent periods.
He was an upholsterer, and worked in
the railroad shops at that trade until about
1853, when he took position on the
police force. He returned to his trade,
however. about 1885, and in 1856 WAS
elected Chief OF Police on the Democratic
ticket against Oliver G. Jackson, who
was then Chief, and served the full term
OF two years. Some years after he ran
against Warren +. Drew for the Chief
taincy, and was defeated.
On completing his term of Office he
went into the liquor business at Front
and l streets, and remained in it to his
death. He was q Past Grand of Sacra-
mento Lodge, and Past Patriarch OF
Pacific Encampment, /. o. o. F.. a MEM
Der OF the Turn Verein and of Sumner
Post. q. A. r. He was q native of St.
Louis, Mo-, AZ years of age, and came to
this city about twenty-one years ago. He
leaves wife, but no children.