The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-13
Remarkable Letter Written to His Brother Before
His Act of Self-Destruction
WAS ONCE NORTHERN PACIFIC COUNSEL
Son Of a Famous Kentucky Jurist and Nephew of a
Prominent Attorney of Philadelphia

NEW YORK, Nov. 12.-John c. Bull
litt Jr., Of Duluth, Mimi, was
found dead today in room
at the Central Railroad hotel on
Liberty street, which he en-
gagged on the previous night, having
registered as from Duluth, MINI. The
man had apparently committed suicide
as bottles containing hydro-chloric
acid, cyanide of potassium and nitric
acid were found on a table near the
bed upon which the corpse lay. A let
ter found in the apartment addressed
70 Joshua f. Bullitt Jr., Big Stone Gap,
wise county, Va, read as follows:
'Thursday-Dear Joshua: | have decided
to end it all. l wish that you and Jim would
induce father and mother to so make their
wills as to secure to my wife and daughter
my one-thlrd OF their estate. l ask that every
paper, memorandum, etc, that / leave be-
hind me be destroyed without being pre-
yiously read You will, know, be interest
ed IN knowing how person feels who is
about to step into the unknown world. Hence,
l will tell you what my feelings are. I
wonder, l doubt, 1 hope, but over all the
OF intense curiosity prevails. What is the
future? l believe / know, but 1t only a be-
ileI: am very curious to verify It, The
feeling of fear is absent. I am going from
the automaton. This fact illustrates my
mental condition perhaps better than
a volume of my writing would. Death seems
to me to be merely an event of no more i'm
portance, say, than breakfast. l love life,
and hate to leave it, but the summons has
been served and l 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.
Fairly 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 chambermaid, the door
of the apartment was forced open late
this afternoon, and then the suicide
was discovered
j. r. McMurran, of No. 16 West Thir-
ty-first street, this city, an intimate
friend of Mr.. Bullitt, and who was
largely instrumental in inducing him
to come to New York, spoke of his
friend tonight. 'I cannot imagine why
he did it," said Mr.. McMurran. "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
railroad at st. Paul prior to moving
to Duluth. Five or six years ago Mr.
Bullitt married Miss Francis Western
of st. Paul. They have a little girl
two years old. Mrs Bullitt's mother
and sister live with her in Duluth
Bullitt was nephew Of John c. Bull
litt one of the most prominent citizens
of Philadelphia. 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 a junior, be-
cause 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 arrang-
ing for offices, and only three days age
in the Waldorf told me he was about
to take out his license here"
Continuing, he said: "a peculiar in
cident that happened a week ago, and
which at that time did not seem un-
usual has now in the light Of this de-
plorable affair, particular significance
1 happened to pass through the parlOr
of the stock exchange and saw my
friend Bullitt sitting all by himself in
a corner of the room. L knew he was
alone in this great city and supposed
he was a little blue. I asked him to
come with me and get a cigar. Never
mind he said Excuse me just now,
Mac. please. I am working out a
problem When I came back an hour
later he seemed light and cheerful and
when I asked him in a jocular way If
he had succeeded, he replied with a
smile: Yes, have solved it out. 1t is
all right now Come, we will get that
cigar I have no doubt but that he
was then planning his death.
James McNaught, a prominent law
yer of the Syndicate building, 80 Mas
sau street, was an intimate friend Of
Mr.. Bullitt When he was out in Du-
Iuth some time ago he saw the young