The Indianapolis journal., 1896-02-19
BULLET in HIS BRAIN
CHARLES =. NAZwORTHy SETTLES
Ills DEFAULT BY DEATH.
short in His Account with "a Trust
Fund, He Takes His Own Life 10
End His Disgrace.


young lawyer. shot himself yesterday
afternoon about 1:30 o'clock. infiicting
wound from which he died two hours later.
The suicide was deliberately planned. Naz-
worthy has been living for about a year
at the home Of DIR. L. " Rowe. 134 North
Meridian street. He went to his room
while the family were at dinner yesterday,
and, after undressing himself. lay down on
his bed in his night shirt. After taking
one long. last look at the picture of the
young lady TO whom he was engaged to be
married. he placed revolver to his lips
and pulled the trigger. His arms fell
across his breast and he was still clasping
the revolver tightly when discovered a few
moments later. He was unconscious up to
the time of his death.
The news spread with great rapidity, and
in a short time a number of the young
mans friends gathered at his bedside.
Nazworthy was member of No. %,
Knights of Pythias. and was also promi-
nently identified with the Marion Club.
Members of both organizations went to
him at once and were present at the time
of his death. His only relative is sister,
Mrs. Kittie Eggler, who resides at Sulli-
van. ILL.,. Nazworthy's old home. Schuyler
A. Haas. member of the Marion Club,
telegraphed the news to her and received
message in rep.y last night, stating that
she would arrive this morning at 3:45
o'clock. I'm the meantime the two organ
izations have taken charge of the remains.
1t is supposed that the funeral will be held
at Sullivan. Ill.,, but no definite arrange
ments will be made until after Mrs.
Eggier's arrival.
Young Nazworthy has been "going the
pace" for along time. and 1t has been an
open secret among his friends and asso-
ciates that he was living beyond his means.
The immediate cause of his act was he
fact that 1t had been learned within the
last two or three days that he had misap-
piled trust funds in his hands. He had been
cited upon two occasions to appear before
the Circuit Court and render an account
ing, which he failed to do. Charles N.
Thompson, attorney for Otto Stechhan, one
of the principal creditors of the trust. noti-
fed the American Surety Company Monday
morning of a number of suspicious circum-
stances he had noticed, and said that Mr..
Stechhan would expect the surety company
to protect him. The company was surety
on the bond.
Albert W. Wishard, vice president and
agent of the company here, filed petition
with the Circuit Court Monday evening, re-
ment be issued requiring the sheriff to
bring Nazworthy into court forthwith.
Sheriff Womack was unable to find NaZ-
when ne was taken before Judge Brown.
Nazworthy failed to make a satisfactory
explanation of the affairs of the trust. but
insisted that he had the money on deposit,
and could make settlement within an
hour. The court gave him until noon-twO
hours-to get his report in shape and to
prepare to turn the money over to his sue
npS Ia "a haan on AQ q m o.
ments Judge Brown decided that Nazworthy
should have remained in the custody OF the
man and watch him. Sheriff Womack and
several deputies started out to search for
MIN. but heard nothing more of him until
the report that he had shot himself reached
the courthouse.
WROTE THEM LETTERS.
Upon leaving the courthouse Nazworthy
went to his Office and locked himself inside.
r. b. Coleman. another attorney. who occu-
pied rooms with Nazworthy in the Baldwin
Block. found him engaged in writing letters.
He told Coleman that he did not want any
one to see him. and went into his private
Office. Coleman met deputy sheriff at ills
door and told him Nazworthy was not there,
not knowing who he was. Coleman says
that Nazworthy made no statements to him
whatever about having had trouble in court,
and left the office about IL o'clock. first Civ
ing some Instructions about case they had
in Police Court He carried with him three
letters, ready for mailing After posting
them he went TO barber shop and got
shaved DR.. Rowe said last night that while
he and his family were at dinner they heard
some one come in and go upstairs. That
was about quarter before O'Clock.
Half hour later DR.. Rowe and his wife
were sitting in their parlor when they saw
some one enter the front gate. The man
rang the bell, and almost simultaneously
with the ring they heard a heavy muffied
sound above them The man at the door in
quired for Nazworthy. but was infor med
that he was not at home. Mrs. Rowe had
not heard NaZworthy enter the house, and
she did not connect NaZworthy with the re-
DR.. Rowe says that after the man left the
door 1t flashed through his mind that Naz-
worthy had shot himself, and he went to
his room upstairs. He found IL locked on
once concluded that his suspicious were well
founded. He got chair and looked through
the transom. He saw Nazworthy stretched
upon the bed colored man reached over
the door and sprung the spring lock with a
broom handle. DR.. Rowe entered the room
and says that he knew at once Nazworthy
had not long to live. He covered with
blood, and part of the brain tissue was ooZ-
ing from his mouth. In its range
upward the the 6;d bullet had severed tsro,,,n an
the top OF the skull. The Doctor
thinks il lodged in the base of the brain.
The pillow was covered with blood, and
worthy was lying upon his back. his right
arm across his breast. and i'm his hand he
still clutched the pistol which had done
its deadly work. Lying bessde him the
picture of the young girl to whom he was
to have been married next summer.
Streams of blood had spurted over the
picture. A hasty search of the room dis
closed that Nazworthy had not left single
scrap of paper explaining the reasons for
the deed. Later il was learned that one
of the letters Nazworthy posted yesterday
was addressed to one of his intimate
indicating what disposition he wished made
of his body.
DIR. Rowe notified the police and sent word
to \azworthy's friends. In a short time
CAPTAIN Dawson and Sergeant Lowe arrived
and stayed until thte coroner took charge
of the body. They searched the room. but
found nothing that would throw any. hight
on the case. Coroner Castor will render a
verdict of suicide
CAUSE OF THE DEED.
Albert w. Wishard. agent of the American
Surety Company. said that Nazworthy was
appointed trustee in the assignment of
Thomas ID. Scott. lounge dealer. doing bus-
ness as the American Lounge Company
who became .nsoivent i'm December, 1884,
Nazworthy was at that time a clerk i'm the
law office of ex-Lieutenant Governor Hanna.
Mr.. Hanna recommended Nazworthys ap-
pontment, and the American Surety Com
pdny executed his bonl for 5000 Naz-
worthy qualified as trustee Dec. - 1894. AT
that time il was thought that the assets
largely incumbered. The deed of assignment I
covered q lot or accounts, stock on hand