The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-12-24
HOW FRANK PHlsrnR plsp.
ne was Deapondsnt and Desired Death
Shot Himself In the Head

ne was Deapondebt and Desired Death
Shot Himself in the Head
The Washington Star Of Dec. 10 gives
the following account Of the suicide of
Frank Phlster, formerly cashier Of the
Bank Of Indian Territory OF this city, |
and 9 man we'll known to Guthrie pee.
plei
'Mr. Frank r Phister a govern
ment clerk and a popular young man
about town, committed suicide this
morning at his boarding house, 92s !
street, by shooting himself through
the head. Death was instantaneous
and when the body was found about s
o'clock this morning the young man
had evidently been dead for some
time.
The young man was a son OF the late
Elijah c. Phister Of Marysville, KY,
who represented the tenth Kentucky
district In the forty.sixth and forty sew
ent hcongresses. During his fathers
term the young man was appointed
to q government clerkship. and was
for q time connected with the Smith
sonian Institution. For the past year
OF so he had been clerk In the Indian
bureau.
Mr.. Phister had lived for q couple of
years past at the boarding house in
the southern street and was prominent
In the southern contingent Of Wash
Ington society. He was a good.look
ing man. always well dressed and was
about thirty-six years Of age. He was
also we'll acquainted among the artis-
tic set and was something Of an anna
teur himself. The walls Of his room
were hung with excellent amateur
photographs, momentoes Of social
events in which he had participated,
and with photographs OF southern
beauties. He was well liked by all
who knew him and was OF rather a
studious turn of mind, but he was his
own worst enemy. At times he was a
hard drinker, and there is little doubt
that he killed himself either in fit Of
temporary insanity or in the deep de.
spondency that succeeded spree that
had lasted for several days
when Mr. Phister returned to his
boarding house early last evening he
was evidently under the influence OF
liquor and was scarcely able to make
his way to his room on the fourth
floor. A friend OF his, who occupied a
room in the same house, came to his
assistance and finally got him to bed
The unfortunate young man was in an
extremely nervous condition, and his
friend went TO neighboring drug
store and got him scdative powder,
after which he went to sleep.
"At an early hour this morning,
somewhere between and o'clock,
two ladies in the honse heard q noise
that sounded like the report OF pistol
but they were unable to locate It and
paid no further attention to the mat
ter. About 5 o'clock this morning
JEFF, colored waiter, went upstairs 70
call Mr.. Phister. He opened the door
and caught glimpse OF the body ly-
ing on the bed. He turned and hur-
} ried down the stairs to give the alarm.
Tie sight that met the first TO enter
the room was a shocking one The
young man was in bed, under the GOV.
ers. In his right hand was still clasped
a handsome pearl.handled revolver.
He had evidently drawn the weapon
from under the pillow, and, placing
the muzzle TO his right temple, had
J fred one shot The wound had bled
. tremendously, and pillow and mattress
were drenched
The authorities were notified and
Coroner Hammett, after viewing the
body and making a thorough investi
CATION, decided that an inquest would
not be necessary. The body wal
turned over to local undertaken to b,
prepared for burial, and word wal
sent to the young mans sister iu New
York and to his other relatives In Ken
/, tuclSy. 1t is supposed that the remain
will be taken TO Maysville for inter
ment
Farm for sale
One hdnorS5 and sixty acres. Il
miles from Guthrie. hduress Is, ear