The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-08-22
THAT'S NOT FATHER"

stranger, who was young and Intelligent
grew uncomfortable under the Ill disguised
scrutiny of the crowd and finally said:
Gentlemen, I would like to explain my
presence here, and why 1 sit up In the Office
In preference to taking bed. In the first
place, let me assure you IL is not matter
OF money" drawing out a goodly sized rol.
OF bills For some years my father, who
isa resident of New York. has had troubl,
with his family and has been wanderer
He was at one time worth considerable
money, but this has been lost and a mum.
Der of letters which have of late received
from him show me he is respondent. This
afternoon l got letter from him dated IL
Detroit saying he would arrive in Chicago
tonight, take room at this hotel and enc
his life by turning on the gas He added
that in the event of the gas failing he has
pistol with him with which he would
send a bullet through his brain. Father
had no idea would get this letter today,
as have been out of town, and Ii was
only an unexpected case of sickness In my
family which brought me back am sit
ting up here to intercept him when he
comes in and prevent the suicide which he
contemplates. Fortunately have means
enough for both, and can relieve his anx.
iety in this respect.
DR.. Potter and his friends were at once
interested. They congratulated the stran-
ger on his good luck in having received
his fathers letter In time and rendered
their services in any way in which they
might be desired. Two or three times an
effort was made to find out the mans
name, but he parried the questions on the
ground that, as his fathers plans would
be frustrated, he did not care to have his
identity disclosed. "You may, however,
call me Melchior, as 1t is awkward to ad
dress man without name, and MelchioI
is as good as anything barring the right
one" The evening sped along and about
midnight the stranger, being assured nc
more trains would arrive before morning
took his departure, saying he thought his
father must have been detained or perhaps
have happily changed his mind. The 90
currence was so much out Of the ordinary
that DIR. Potter and his friends sat up for
an hour or more talking It over.
At o'clock they went to bed and few
minutes later the night clerk retired, leav
ing an assistant, who had not heard the
story, in charge of the Office. About 30
in came an old gentleman with a travel
ing bag in hand, who res istered as George
O. Melchior." and was assigned to room
In the morning the chamberinaid reported
a strong smell of gas on that floor. The
door of the newcomers room was broken
in, and he was found dead with pistol
In his right hand and bullet wound In
his head. He had turned on the gas and
then shot himself. By this time everybody
in the house had heard the story Of the
young mans visit the night before and
all were positive that the old gentleman
who had killed himself was his father.
The afternoon papers had report of the
suicide and before night the young man
was back at the house asking to see the
body. DIR. Potter consoled with him and
went to the desk while he asked some ques-
tions before going up to see the body.
II don't understand how father could
have registered as 'Melchior,' for 1t is not
his name, and only used 1t last night to
conceal our own" the stranger said. "It
must have been case of mental telepathy. "
On reaching the room where the body
lay much more peculiar episode occurred
The moment the young man saw the face
Of the corpse he said:
"That's not father. / never saw this
man before. He is not known to me'
Nor was no. A search Of the dead mans
effects brought out papers proving his iden-
tity as George O. Melchior and giving rea.
sons for suicide somewhat similar to those
advanced by the young stranger when he
was telling his story the night before.
Within week DIR. Potter heard from the
young man, who said his father was alive
and well, having recovered from his de-
spondency and abandoned his intention Of
taking his life, but the mystery of how a
man giving the same name should appear
at the hotel selected by the strangers IA
ther on the same night and commit sui
eide In the same manner outlined by him
has never been explained. The veracious
Chicago Tribune vouohes for the truth Of
the above story.