The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-13
Once Counsel for the Northern Pacific
Railway at st. Paul, but Recently
a Resident of Duluth.
LEFT A REMARKABLE LETTER
IN WHICH HE DESCRIBED HIS FEEL
INGS BEFORE ENDING HIS LIFE.
Was Pervaded with Intense Curiosity
Concerning the Hereafter, but
Felt No Fear of Death.

NEW YORK, Nov 12-John c. Bullitt,
jr., of Duluth, Mimi. was found dead to-day
in room at the Central Railroad Hotel.
on Liberty street, this city, which
he engaged on the previous night,
having registered from Duluth,
Mimi. The man had apparently com
hydrochloric acid, cynanide of potassium
and nitric acid were found on q table near
the bed on which the corpse lay A letter
found in the apartment addressed to Joshua
F. Bullitt, jr. Big Stone Gap, Wise county,
Virginia, read as follows:
Dear Josh--I have decided to end it all.
I wish that you and Jim will induce father
and mother to so make their wills as to
secure to my wife and daughter my one
third share of their estate. ask that every
paper, memorandum, ETC., that I leave be-
hind me be destroyed without being
previously read. You will, know, be inter-
ested in knowing how person feels who is
about to step into the unknown world.
Hence, I will tell you what my feelings are.
l wonder, doubt, hope, but over all the
wonder and the doubt, and the hope, a
feeling of intense curiosity pervades. What
is the future? 1 believe / know, but it is
only a belief. am very curious to verify
it, The feeling of fear is absent. / am going
from here to the Eden Musee to play chess
with the automaton This fact illustrates
my mental condition, perhaps better than
volume of my writing would. Death seems
to me to be merely an event of no more
Importance, say, than breakfast. love life,
and hate to leave it, but the summons has
been served and must answer. And now,
goodbye. We will meet again. Your brother,
JOHN C. BULLITT, JR.''
After registering at the hotel Bullitt was
given room on the second floor. Early
this morning he came down stairs, but
returned to his room. That was the last
time Bullitt was seen alive. AS there was
no response to the knocks of the chamber
maid the door of the apartment was forced
open late this afternoon and then the sui
eide was discovered.
Mr.. ]. r. McMurran, Of No 16 West Thir-
ty-first street, this city, an intimate friend
of Mr.. Bullitt, and who was largely instru-
mental in inducing him to come to New
York spoke of his friend tonight. IT cam
not imagine why he did it," said Mr.. Nc
Murran. 1.-The only reason that can be
given is the past three or four years of
financial depression which he passed
through His home is in Duluth, Mimi. He
was counsel for the Northern Pacific Rail-
road at ST. Paul prior to moving to Duluth.
Five or six years ago Mr.. Bullitt married
Miss Frances Western. They have a little
girl about two years old. Mrs Bullitt's
mother and sister live with her in Duluth.
Bullitt was nephew or John c. Bullitt,
one of the most prominent citizens of Phila-
delphia. His father is Logan M. Bullitt, of
Louisville, KY, and he has a brother,
Joshua F. Bullitt, jr., to whom the letter
was addressed. Joshua is also known as
junior because he has an uncle of the same
name. About a month ago Bullitt came to
New York largely because of my repeated
urging He was arranging for offices and
only three days ago, in the Waldorf, told
me he was about to take out his license
here"
Continuing, Mr.. McMurran said: "a pc
culiar incident that happened q week ago,
and which at that time did not seem un-
usual, has now, in the light of this deplora-
BILE affair, particular significance. hap
paned to pass through the parlor of the
Stock Exchange and saw my friend Bullitt
81 ling all by himself in a corner of the
room. I knew he was alone in this city.
and supposed he was a little blue. 1 asked
him to come with and get a cigar.
Never mind he said. Excuse met just
now, Mac, I am working out a problem
When came back an hour later he seemed
light and cheerful and when / asked him,
in a jocular way, If he had succeeded, he
replied, with smile, Yes, have solved it
out. 1t is all right now. Come, we will get
that cigar. 1 have no doubt that he was
then planning his death.
Mr. James Mcknight, prominent law
yer of the Syndicate building, No. 35 Mas
sau street, was an intimate friend of Mr..
Bullitt. When he was out in Duluth, some
time ago, he saw the young man was not
prospering as he should, and he suggested
moving to New York Mr. McNaught told
me tonight he had concluded to give Bull
lit a start by placing him on salary at
once, and all day yesterday and to-day he
was looking for him to come in. The letter
you say he left addressed to Mr. Mcknight
was perhaps in connection with this. We
have wired his relatives in Duluth and
Kentucky and expect reply at any mo-
ment. Some of them will very likely come
on and take personal charge of the body,
but If not we will see that ii is properly
cared for and turned over to friends"
The body was taken to an undertaking
shop at No. 95 Greenwich street tonight
awaiting final orders for it's disposition.
PROBABLY DERANGED.