The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-31
VAS HB A RICHMOND NAN +?
A Stranger Wearing Clothing Purchased
Here Kills Himself In New Orleans.
FOUND WITH 4 BULLETIH HIS BRAIN.
He is Described as Five Feet Five Inches
In Height. with Brown Hair and Clean
Shaven Face and Apparently
FortysOdd Years Old.

NEW ORLEANS. LA, March a.-Spe-
cial.-A stranger. giving his name as VIII
son Williams. committed suicide In his
room at the Palace Hotel. a cheap lodg-
ing house. in this city. yesterday even
ing. The body of the unfortunate man
was not discovered until this morning.
when 1t was ascertained that he had
killed himself by shooting himself
through the brain. Williams came to this
city March 18th, and registered at the
Palace Hotel mentioned as coming from
Washington, ID. e.. but from his con-
versatlon IL was evident that he was
not giving here his true name or his
correct address.
FINANCIAL TROUBLES.
According to what the man told sever
al of the inmates OF the hotel. IL ap-
pears, that he was laboring under heavy
financial losses. and had taken to hard
drinking to drown his pecuniary sorrow.
lie claimed to have lost $1,000. lie was
under the influence OF liquor when no
first reached the hotel. and several times
after his admission seemed TO be- In a
like condition. lie paid his board for
tbs first three days OF his stay. but at
ter that period paid no more and seem
ed TO be in absolute want OF money dur
ing the remaining day OF his existence
lie had no baggage. Williams said once
or twice he had written home for money.
and upon one occasion told the hotel
proprietor that he was man OF family
and had two daughters. Although the
man had no money his dress Indicated
that he was I'm good circumstances, and
his general appearance indicated also
that he had never made his living by do
ing manual labor. his hands being white
and as soft as a woman's. During the
stay at the hotel he seemed 10 he con-
tinually worried about something or
other and complained of being unwell
several times. and rode about the city
seeking change OF scene in the hope OF
improving his bodily or mental condi-
ton.
ENDED HIS LIFE.
Yesterday morning williams as he per-
sisted i'm calling himself, went TO his
room. which was located I'm the rear OF the
building. and at noon told the house-girI
that he was going TO take sleep. tie
was not seen alive after that hour. No
thing more was heard from him, and this
morning the watchman went to hts
room with the intention OF asking him
for the money he owed the hotel for his
lodging. There was no response to his
knocks, and upon mounting a ladder and
gazing through the transom he was sur
prised to see the body OF the unfortunate
| individual stretcheds upon the bed, On
pillows being saturated with blood. 30
police were notified. and when an examirla
| ton was made IL was found that he had
| shot himself through the head, and had
| evidently been dead for several hours
| There was nothing among the effects OF
| the man to give even an inkiing OF his
| true name or condition. He had destroy
| ed the leaves in his memorandum boot
before suiciding, and had also scratches
| the name from his spectacle case.
HIS APPEARANCE.
Williams was about 5 feet inches In
| height. brown hair and a clean shaver
| face. lie seemed to be between forty and
| forty-hve years of age. and was clad IN
| a neat suit of dark material His overcoal
was of light brown cloth. ana the straT
upon the collar OF the garment containec
| the name Globe Clothing House, Rich
mond. Va" No other clothes did ne
| possess. save a new collar. Shortly after
| registering at the hotel he told one or ths
| employees that he was farmer. but TINS
| statement was doubted. The BODY oi
| the man is now in the morgue, and VIII
| be buried In the morning. lie left Z
| note saying that the proprietor OF ths
| hotel had his watch.