Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-18
A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
Samuel Elders Death Was Brought
About By His Own Hand,

DGmu0l GluUI OV1lA w W. - ~
About By His Own Hand,
Various Reasons Assigned for His
Rash Act-The Truth was Not
Learned Until After His Death.
a Hole in His Head Supposed to
Have Been Due to Contact with
a Nail-Belief That the Deed
was Premeditated-A Sketch Of
His Life.
The Register stated yesterday that
Camuel Elder, well-known citizen had
been found in an unconscious condi-
ton, and at an early hour in the
morning the attending physician ex-
pressed grave doubts concerning his re
covery. The fact was revealed, after
his death, that Elder was a suicide.
About three o'clock Tuesday after
noon, Elder left his home at No. 222
Seventeenth street for a walk. He was
not seen again during the afternoon,
but that was not unusual, and there
fore did not cause any alarm. During
the afternoon come person called to at
tend to a business matter. and about
seven o'clock boy was sent into the
closet in the yard to search for him,
as he had not been in good health, and
1t was feared that he might have be-
come worse. and been placed i'm help
less condition. The boy found Elder,
and when he was carried into the house
he was unconscious. He did not regain
consciousness up to the hour of his
DEATH about four o'clock this morn
ing.
A message was Immediately sent for
Dr. Reed Baird. the family physician,
who worked with the patient, and upon
return later in the night, thought he
noticed an improvement lie discOV-
cred a wound over his right ear and
BLOOD STAINS
on his shirt, but accepted the opinion
OF the relatives who were present, that
the wound was caused by contact with
2 nail As before stated, lIr. Elder
died about four o'clock.
Yesterday morning relatives, not en-
tirely satisfied decided to make an in
vestigation. They entered the closet,
and were Mortified upon discovering a
revolver 1t was weapon Of the bull
dog" pattern. IS calibre, and evidently
new When Dr. Baird called, he prob
ed the wound in the head, and found a
bullet at a depth Of about four inches.
Relatives suspected foul play from the
fact that Elder had frequently spoken
in condemnation of persons who We're
guilty of self-murder. There is, how
ever. nothing to lend probability 10 this
theory. Mr. Elder took his own life.
Several reasons have been assigned
for his rash act One is domestic
trouble. He was married several
years ago. lived unhapDily with his
wife. was divorced, and on his person
were found several letters written by
his former wife since that time. lie
vas Of a temperament sometimes dis
cribed as high strung He was en-
thusiastic in anything which he advC-
Gated. and was eXcitabe and irritable.
He took a great interest in politics, and
since the election has frequently talked
upon the subject with considerable
warmth. These facts, taken in con-
nection with is failing health. proba-
bly, resulted in dependency, and de-
termination 10 end his life.
1t is very probable that the
DEED WAS PREMEDITATED
that Elder has contemplated the act
for some time. A Register reporter eX-
amined the deed books in Clerk RO-
bertsons Office yesterday. and ascer-
tanned that Elder had transferred all
his real estate to relatives. about jan
uary Goth. There are four deeds on
record, all bearing that date. The first
conveys to his brother, Hugh Thomas
Elder. foreman Of printing establish
ment in Boston lots Nos. SIS and SO on
Eighteenth street, and property III
Alley Is: consideration love and atfec-
ton" To his sister Rebecca MCGEE. for
love and affection and S2,joe. he trans
ferred lots 145. 146 and 147. with APP
purtenances thereon; ID his sister,
Mary Ann Nesbitt, wife of David Mes
bitt. for love and affection and $4,000.
he transferred the west half of lot No.
- on the north side Of Nineteenth
street: and TO his ncwhew, JAS. T. Nc
Gee. fer love ard affection and $1,000,
ne transferred the east half Of lot No.
a on Nineteenth street, with improve
ments thereon.
Coroner J. w. Schultz viewed the re-
mains yesterday afternoon heard the
testimony of several witnesses and reh-
dered a verdict of suicide.
Mr.. Elder was well-known through
cut the city, and his rash act was the
subject of general conversation during
the day.
HIS CAREER.
= Mr.. Elder was 20 years of age, and
spent most of his life in Wheeling. He
was born in the north Of Ireland, came
to America whe. yoUng man, and
came to this city ~ years ago. The
family was in poor circumstances and
his mother was for some time janitress
of the old Third ward public school
building. at the corner OF jacob street.
Samuel was employed by the b. x o.
railroad company when the line was
opened to this city. 1t was while work
inc about the platform at the local sta
ton that he met with an accident
which cost him one Of his lower limbs.
lie has been engaged in the manu-
facture of soap for about thirty years,
the place of business being located at
the east end of Seventeenth street. BY
upright business methods, united with
frugality and energy, he accumulated
a fortune of about $4,000 10 S7O,OOO.
,.e.,saff IL frrr ID on q