The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-30
He FELL TO HIS DEATH
Sudden Tragic Ending of the Life Of
Captain James MuIlln.
FELL FROM A FOURTH STORY WINDOW
WINS Found Three Hours Later No
homes Were Brokeu-Theory OF
Know im-Thouyht TO Have Lost
His nainnco-Tho Inquest.

About $50 o'clock yesterday morning
q colored hoy employed at the Glad
stone Tailoring Company's establish
ment. discovered in n small court in the
rear of the Gladstone Hotel the body
of man lying face downward upon
the ground In his undertaking. He
at once notified the clerks of the hotel,
who Went at once to the spot and iden-
tilted the unfortunate man as Captain
James q. Mullins. a well known AMI
popular gentleman. who has been
boarder at the hotel ever since II was
built. and who occupied Il room on the
fourth floor with window looking out
upon the court Immediately over the
spot where the body was found. about
forty feet above the ground.
NO BONES WE'RE BROKEN.
Captain Mullins was large man.
weighing 235 pounds. but no bones were
broken In the terrible fall. He was iy
ing upon his face his right hand under
his head. his nose. cheeks. and fore
head badly disiigured. and brulse
upon his temple Indicating possibly the
cause of his death His
thigh was also diSlocated and he had APP
parently sustained internal injuries.
Coroner Newton was notified and
came ut once, making an examination
of the body. He said that death had
probably been instantaneous and had
occurred some three hours before. or
CORONER'S JURY.
y corouer's jury was summoned. con-
sisiing of Messrs. John l.. Nash. w.
II. Webster. T.. II. Seward. II. a. Wood.
julius Saunders and T. Whiting. An
inquest was held and verdict quickly
arrived at. to the effect that the de-
ceased came to his death from the eff
fects of n fall from the fourth story
window of the Gladstone Hotel. There
~ iaf pf
whom WIS Mr.. Ed. James. chief clerk
nj the Gladstone, and Emma Parrish, a
chambcrmaid.
The former testified that Captain Null
Inns was brought TO the hotel about 2
o'clock Monday afternoon in an In
toxicated condition and was taken up to
his room. He complained of feeling
badly but was rational and asked for
pitcher Of water. Mr.. James left him
and told him to ring IL he wanted any
thing else.
The chamhermaid carried him coffee
and ice water rs late as S o'clock. and
this was the last seen of him alive.
SUICIDE THEORY NOT BELIEVED.
When the news of Captain Mullins
death became known the usual theory
of suicide was at once started. but the
friends of the dead man and those who
have examined the place of the TRACE
dy. do not believe that there Is any
ground for such theory. nor do any
OF the facts In the case seem to bear
out the idea The captain had been
drinking for some days. and was hardly
I'm responsible condition. When found
he was tightly graspinG n towel and
II is thought that he went to the win
dow during the night for some purpose,
perhaps to get breath of fresh air.
and while lenning out lost his balance
and fell.
The little court into which he fell Ia
only five feet wide and II is argued that
he could not have thrown himself from
the window without striking the fence
below. which he evidently did not do.
Some time ago. while intoxicated, he
fell from second story window at
Sales Hotel. hut escaped with n few
bruises, He spoke of this afterward
as an accident and II was accented as
such. IL he contemplated suicide he
gave no indication of his thoughts to
any one, and his friends say he was
not the man 10 do thing like that.
THE FUNERAL.
The remains were taken in charge by
Funeral Director Smith and prepared
Tor burial. after which they were taken
TO the Armory. from which the funeral
VIII take place this afternoon Mt
O'CLOCK and will he attended by all the
| local companies of the Fourth Reri.
ment. the Norfolk Light Artillery Rhics
1890 - 'oSh VI pbhtlS. LOT the deceased
was extremely popular. especially ir
military circles
The dead man was SO years OF age
and nnr arricd. He was the son of the
late Major John c. Mullins, whose
sudden death in this city several years
| ago VIII be remembered Major Mini.
/ inns having been found on the street In
a da2ed condition by q policeman and
dying short time afterward. Cantalr
Nnlllns leaves a brother DR.. Is r.
Mullins. of Baltimore: and n sister. Mrs
/ w. b. Meredith. OF Park avenue. Rra,n
nleton ward. He was Il captain OF Com.
( pany Il. jackson Light Infantry. Fourtt
Regiment and general favorite win
| all the men. AT the time OF his dca,t
! he was agent for the Hartford LIf,
insurance Company, and had formcrl,
Deen TRANSFORMATION clerk i'm the ioinl
! freight office of the Norfolk and Wcs-
ern. Atlantic and Danvillc, and Nor
chants and Miners COMPANIES M ~,
Boston wharf He was n man of sn,en
ana physique, generous and lovabin II
disposition and kind impulses. and hi,
death is severe shock TO his man,
warm friends.
me body of the dead man lay In state
nj the Armory all last night under guar
of Company r, large portion OF Whicf
was on. IN uniform. There were MANY
visiting friends. who came 10 view IN,
| remains
Adjourned cut OF Respect.