The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-12
ONLY TIRED OF LIFE
FRIENDS OF ALBERT s. MERRIAM
KNOW NO CAUSE FOR HIS
SUICIDE.
PUT A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
ILL-HEALTH FOR MONTHS THE
ONLY APPARENT REASON FOR
THE DEED.
FATALITY ON A HUNTING TRIP.
Peter G. Leaf Meets Death Acciden-
tally-GeneraI News of a Day in
the Mill City.
PUT A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
FATALITY ON HUNTING TRIP.

The sudden and wholly unexpected
suicide of Albert S. Merriam yesterday
afternoon was a great shock to his
friends and especially to his wife and
daughter, who were completely pros
trated by the awful news. No other
cause than that of i'll health can be
assigned for the terrible deed of self,
destruction. DR.. J. M. Lewis, who at
tended Mr. Merriam was as much sur
prised and shocked to hear of the
suicide as any one else. For the past
six months Mr.. Merriam was under the
care Of DR.. Lewis his complaint being
nervous prostration caused by over
work and business anxiety. At that
time Mr.. Merriam was inextremely poor
health, but, acting under his physi-
clans advice, he took a trip to the
Bermuda Islands. He returned in June
last, much improved and continued to
grow better until he left for trip in
the Rocky Mountains about the middle
Of August. He returned to his home
here about a month later, this trip
having also proved very beneficial to
his health. Since then, he has been
taking medical aid and has been con-
stantly convalescing. Last Sunday Dr.
Lewis met his patient and the latter
told him that he was feeling we'll and
had walked down town, preferring this
to driving. He seemed to be in very
cheerful mood and thoughts of suicide
seemed to be farthest from his mind.
The doctor is unable to account for
the rash act. Those who know say
that the family life Of the MeriamS
was an ideal one. Mr.. Meram's bust
ness could not have prompted him to
the deed, for it is known to be fairly
prosperous, although he had given up
business cares to a large extent on ac-
count of his health. DR.. Lewis cannot
account for the suicide in any other
way than that a sudden attack of his
old trouble came on or else he was
suffering from a sudden attack of
mental arrangement, for it would seem
that no sane man could have thus end
ed his existence.
The dead man had breakfast and
lunch as usual yesterday, and in the
early afternoon lay down on the
lounge Mrs. Merriam stepped out and
on returning found her husband gone
Evidently he came directly down to
spoke to several friends and then went
into the ante room where the act was
committed. In a moment the report
of a pistol was heard. DR.. George F.
Roberts and DR.. Williamson were sit
ting with their backs towards the
small room They at once went to see
what the trouble was and saw the
dead man sitting in an easy chair with
the revolver in his right hand, which
was lying on his knee. The bullet had
been fired directly behind the right ear
and had caused instant death, not a
muscle moving as the brain had been
paralyZed. The head was inclined
slightly backward, but death had been
instantaneous.
Secretary DanfOrth was absent from
the club rooms when the shot was fired
Some one ran down stairs and called a
policeman and the coroner was sum-
mcned. Deputy Coroner Nye responded
to the summons and arrived within a
hour
The investigation occupied only few
minutes. The story was too simple to
demand investigation; the revolver in
the clenched hand was all that was
needed 1t was the coroner's duty to
learn the name and other facts about
the person of the deceased, to search
his pockets for property, perhaps to
find the tell-tale note which suicides
this mortal coil. But there was no note
to friend or loved one; a few matches
and scraps Of paper, besides the con-
ventional pocket property of a man of
affairs. His clothes were new, clean
and stylish. He was a well-dressed
man; in his collar-button glistened a
diamond and everything about his per-
son was indicative Of respectability and
comfortable circumstances.
Friends were able to identify the man
and the coroner needed only the as
surance that they would notify the
family and care for the body until it
should be removed. There his presence
and his duties ended.
To Dr. George F. Roberts fell the aw-
full task of carrying the news to the
stricken home. He found the wife and
Observation-Disclosures of Capt.
Merriam at their residence, 1719 Park
avenue, and the short and bitter story
was soon told.