The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-05
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
In Bath Room R. N. Wells Puts a
Bullet Into His Brain.
IT'S A PROFOUND SURPRISE
He Never minated Such a Pro-
ceedng-A Heart-Br oken Wife
and hlld-He was Superin-
tend emit of the Hosp. al.

Richard NJ. Wells, a brother of DIR.
George II. Wells, and superintendent
of DR.. Wells hospital. committed sui
eide last evening while in a fit of de-
spondency resulting from business
troubles. He sent a bullet into his brain
about o'clock and died an hour and
a half later without having ever re-
gained consciousness. He had never
given any intimation that he enter
tanned a thought of ending his exist
ence and his sudden death was a pro-
found shock to his relatives who are
stricken with unspeakable sorrow
Mr.. Wells was last seen alive a little
before 6 o'clock last evening, when he
left the hospital and went into DIR.
Wells private residence at No. SOB
West Galena street, which Immediately
adjoins the hospital All of the mem
bers of the family were away from
4 home at the time, and ii is supposed
/ that Mr.. Wells selected that time as
| being most favorable for the carrying
/ out Of his plan Of self destruction. The
+ supposition is that he went directly to
| DR.. Wells library and secured his re-
volver and then went into the bath
room and fired the fatal shot.
Mrs. Wells and DIR. Wells mother,
4 who had been up town, returned home
some time afterwards and Mrs. Wells
happened to go into the bath room
| about minutes after o'clock. Her
| eyes encountered a terrible sight the
I instant the door was opened. Her UNI
fortunate brother-in-law was lying on
the floor just inside of the door in a
pool of blood that had spread itself all
over the room. The revolver which
was lying on the floor at his right side,
where it had fallen, told the story OF
his self-destruction. He was breath
ing heavily and Mrs. Wells Immediate
"a ICnfnr'G
est brother after DR.. Kress, and DR..
Wells himself, who was making calls
in Walkerville, was summoned with all
haste.
DR.. Kress arrived in a few minutes
and found the young man pulseless
and perfectly unconscious. He admin
istered the most powerful stimulants
and did everything that could be done
but his efforts were unavailing and
death ensued at 1926 O'Clock. The bull
let entered the right temple and lodged
in the opposite side of the head. II
was evident that the revolver had beer
held close up against the head. Tht
| revolver used was a 32-caliber Smith
& wesson and was kept by DR.. Wells
In his library.
, Mr. Wells left no message, and, as
|, before stated, he never gave any init
nation that he contemplated suicide
The cause of his action is probably
, found i'm a business transaction IN
Great Falls, which he had confidentl!
= ! expected would result favorably, bu
! | which ended otherwise. He possessed
. a proud disposition, and IL is suppose
that unexpected business reverses wer
8 too much for his sensitive nature I
3 stand The suicide was one OF tn
g saddest that has ever occurred 4
8 Butte. Mr.. Wells was a young man o
v excellent habits and jovial disposition
y and always had a smile and a cheer
word for every one. His domestic rela
. lions were always of the happiest ma
ture and there were many reasons VIII
life should have been sweet TO him. II
5 was % years old and leaves heart
broken wife and a little girl about
d year old. He had been married aboU
two years He came TO Butte yea
ago from Great Falls where he ha
- been engaged in the grocery bushes
!, and had been superintendent OF III
> brothers hospital ever since His viii
= was in the hospital when he went int
- his brothers house and killed himsel
- His former home was in St. Paul an
II has not been decided whether n
n body will be shipped or buried her
" Coroner Richards will conduct an II
"a quest at DR.. Wells residence at
n o'clock to-day.