The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-01-08
Joe McCuIlagh a Suicide.

st. LOUIS, Mo-, Jam. Joseph q.
McCullagh, editor of the Globe Demo-
-crat, leaped from the window of his
bedroom some time between midnight
and daybreak this morning and dashed
his brains out on the stone tagging of
the yard beneath.
At G:30 o'clock one of We stable boys
employed by Mrs. Kate Manion of 1897
West Pine boulevard, with whom Nh.
McCullagh resided, found the body
cold in death. The skull was battered
IN and the brains were scattered over
the tagging. The body was attired in
night clothes.
MIR. McCullagh was tired of living
and killed himself" said DIR. C. FL.
Hughes, his family physician. "He
gave no p~emonition of suicide during
his illness. / saw him for a little
while last evening. He said he felt
sleepy and gave mo to understand he
wanted me to leave him alone. Then
his brain was affected, but his intel
lect was all right. He never gave any
signs of mental breakdown during his
illness. He suffered from profound
nervous exhaustion, complicated with
a recurring kidney trouble. He had
an asthmatic affection in addition.
The late campaign undermined his
health
No writings were found in Mr.. Nc
Culiagh's room explaining his act or
leaving instructions for the arrange
ment of his affairs after death.
Mr.. McCullagh's illness came on him
shortly after the close of the late Re-
publican national convention. 1t took
the form of acute asthma, compli-
Gated with nervous depression. When
he passed through the acute stage he
found himself slow in recovery. His
limbs had lost their vigor, his arms
were numb and there We're Fremont
tions that the brain had come under
the same shadowy spell. He would
not admit that he was failing either
physically or mentally, and insisted
on managing his newspaper from his
bedroom. All through the day he sat
in his chair wrapped in blankets, re-
.ceived reports from his subordinates
and gave them orders for the conduct
OF the paper.
GAS TWICE TURNED ON.
Just before midnight Mrs. Manion
went into Ny. McCullagh's oom to in
quire how he was, as had been her
custom for some time past, and found
the gas streaming from one of the
burners and Mr.. McCullagh in a semi
conscious condition. She Immediately
stopped the flow, aired the and
aroused Mr.. McCullagh, and then,
with an admonition to be more care
full. retired to her own room. This
morning, after the body had been dis
covered. it was found that the gas was
againg flowing with almost full force.
The conclusion is reached, therefore,
that after his sister-in-law lift him for
the night he deliberately turned the
gas on again, but finding death too
slow by hat means, opened the win
dow and plunged headlong to the pave
ment below.
Biographical.
Joseph Burbridge McCulIagh was born in
Dublin in 1S43 He came to this country
when ONLY II years old and at once became
an apprentice on 4 New York city weekly.
II 1858 he came to this city and was first j
coapositor and then a reporter on the Dem
ocr2t. He had mastered Sh~orthand-then a
rare OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was OF great
service to him. Before the war he went to-
Cincinnati and became connected first with
the Gazette and later with the commercial
as ! steCographer.
Mir. McCullagh aCted as a correspondent
during the war, and his letters signed
Mack made him famous. He crossed the
Mississippi river with Grant, and the silent
soldier and brilliant correspondent struck
W a close friendship, which lasted till the
generals death. Mr.. McCullagh was also
with Sherman's army on its march through
Georgia. He followed the fortunes of war
nearly three years, and in that time had
various sensational experiences and narrow
escapes, proving himself under the most
irving circumstances cool, resolute and
daring.
As 4 Washington correspondent Mr.. Nc
sCu!lagh added TO the reputation he had &C
ouired during the war. His familiarity with
political principles, as evidenced by his ar
ticlcs. was such that his advice is said 10
have been often sought by statesmen. He
was called the originator of interviewing"
having pTacticed that branch of journalism
in manner seldom if ever equaled His
first interviews with President Johnson
were Copicd all over the country.
Between 1865 and 1870 Mr.. MCCullagh
was managing editor of the Cincinnati.
OD Enquirer. Then he bought an interest
IN the Chicago Republican, now the Inter-
ocean, but when the property was practi-
.caily destroyed in the 1871 fire, returned to
this city, where ne lived till death. He &C
.Cepted the editorship of the Globe, one of
two rival Republican newspapers here, the
other being the Democrat, which had been
founded in 1852 and had been the organ of
the Republican party. quarrel both in the
partv and among the owners Of the paper
caused the starring of the Globe. Its lot
was not a prosperous one though 1t took
away enough OF the business of the Demo-
.crat TO injure that materially. The Demo-
crat was d member of the Associated Press,
and the Globe was not. While Mr.. Mccall
Iash was unable 10 make the balance come
upon the right SIDE of the ledger OF the
Globe. he was able to make a newspaper
which people talked about There was a
snap n its editorial comments that St Louis
had not been accustomed to; there was al
cir c. So. ationalism about its news depart
nents that was new in that field.
series Of political and personal events
brought about d consolidation of the two
Dapers with McCulIagh at the head-a posi-
zion which he held the rest of his life.
re was unconventional in dress, manners,
habits and speech. though careful of his
-yrit+en ENGLISH. He had much huTnOr,