Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-02-28
INTO HIS HEART.
Albert Braun Sends a Bullet
Last Evening.
A VERY SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY.

A VERY SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY
Becoming Tired Of Life Prompted Hi
Rash Act-Was q Former Seattle. Wash.
Brewer-His Letters and Desire to Havs
His Body Incinerated-The Inquest.
Albert Braun committed suicide al
o'clock last evening at the resi-
dence of Frank Attwatcr. 1407 Sec.
ond avenue, where he had roomed
for the past five months. by sending
a bullet from a 32-calibre revolver
through his heart. In letter found
on the dresser of his room addressed
to MIR. Attwater, Braun gives as his
reason for his tragical act that he
was tired of life and was COM
PEELED to destroy himself. which
was done with a free will. He
complained of not feeling well yes
terday both at his boarding house.
Mrs. Herkert's, and to Mr.. and Mrs.
Attwater, refusing to eat any sup
per. A short time before the trag-
edy Braun came down stairs from his
room and conversed with Mr.. and
Mrs. Attwater, drinking bottle of
beer with them. He then returned
to his room, where he had been
scarcely two minutes when the fatal
shot was fired. The report was fol-
lowed by loud groan. Mr.. Att
water fastened to Braun's room, the
door of which was closed but I'M
locked, and was Mortified to find him
lying on the bed with a wound over
his heart. from which the blood was
oozing, and q smoking revolver at his
left side. This explained all. He
had done away with himself. DIR. j..
+. Myers was summoned, and upon
examination found that the bullet
had penetrated the heart, causing in
slant death.
Planned His Death.
1t now becomes apparent that
Braun had been planning self-de-
struction for some time. Since Sun
day he has been confined almost con-
stantly to his room, absenting him
self only for meals. writing letters,
about thirty being found on his
dresser addressed to different friends
in this city, to his mother in Germany.
Seattle, Wash, his former home, and
various other places, bidding each a
last farewell. and sending informa-
ton of his suicide. Several letters
are directed to City Attorney j. l..
Haas, who it is supposed is in
structed to attend to his life insur-
ance policies and make the necessary
disposition of his possessions. All
through the arrangements OF these
transactions Braun had been cool
and deliberate. manifesting no un.
easiness or worry until last evening,
when he came down stairs for the
last time to chat with MIR. and Mrs.
Attwater. He looked paid and con.
fused, and when asked the cause
stated that he had a severe head
ache, which he also complained
of while eating dinner at hi:
boarding house. telling Mrs. HerkerI
that he hardly expected to return al
supper time, and he did not. While
chatting with Mr.. and Mrs. AttwateI
he said he had present for theiI
little son, frankie, and went to hi:
room and brought back small cuI
and saucer. which he said had beer
given him long ago for a Christian
gift. He Immediately returned t.
his room to commit the awfu
deed which he had so long been plan
ming. Unlike most cases of this ma
ture, Braun did not take his lif,
while in a rage, as was evidenced b,
the manner in which he had prepared
himself, and arranged his room
placing everything in its prope
place before firing the fatal shot
Fearing that the bed covering
might be soiled with the blood from
the wound he was to inflict, b,
spread lap robe across the bed
Stripping himself nude to the waist
he lay lengthwise of the bed on hi
back, took the revolver in his lef
hand. placed it to his left breast ant
sent a S2-calibre bullet piercin,
through his heart, expiring withou
a struggle in very few seconds.
A Farewell Letter.
Lett on the dresser unSealed, nea
the bundle Of letters. was one ad
dressed to Mr.. Attwater, and rea,
as follows:
Rock ISLAND, Feb. %, 1S95.--Dea
Mr.. Attwater: have ended my lif
by nv own free will. being tired o
life. Please notify proper authori
ties of the steps l have taken. an,
hand letter addressed to /. U. D. +
to the proper officials. whose nam
you very likely will be able to fin
out OF Mr.. Pinneo. he being n mem
Der. Also notify DR.. Bernhardi.
leave everything of my effects i
this room to you and your wife. eN
cept trunk with contents also en-
close $l.75 for this weeks rental