The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-01
ST. LOUIS EDITOR A SUICIDE.
J, u. MCULLAGH LEAPS FROM A
THIRD STORY WINDOW.


His Brains Dashed Out ON the stone
Pavement in the Yard-SeIf De-
struction the Result of Mental Alb
Grafton Brought on by Asthma
aud Nervous Depression Resulting
From over work During the Press
idential Election.
st. Louis Mo, Dec. 3i.--Joseph B. Nc
Cullagh editor of the Globe-Democrat,
was found dead on the pavement in the
rear of his residence, No. 1887 West Pine
Boulevard, at $50 o'clock this morning
He had evidently jumped from window
of his bedroom on the third floor of the
house some time between midnight and
daybreak and dashed his brains out ON
the stone Tagging; of the yard.
At $50 O'clock this morning one of the
stable boys employed by Mrs Manien, his
sister-in-law, with whom MIR. McCullagn
lived, found the body. The skull was bat
tered in and brains were scattered abouC
on the tagging. Mr.. McCullagh was at
tired in his night clothing.
Mr.. MeCullagh had been confined to his
room since Nov. 10 with acute asthma,
complicated with nervous depression, as
a result of his arduous labors in the re-
cent election.
Dr. c. II. Hughes his physician, said
this morning. "Mr. McCullagh was tired
of living and killed himself. He gave no
premonition of suicide during his illness.
l saw him for little while last evening.
He said he felt sleepy and gave me to un-
derstand he wanted me tc leave him
alone. His brain was affected but his in
tellect was all right. He suffered from
profound nervous exhaustion. complicated
with recurring kidney trouble. The late
campaign undermined his health. No
writings were found in Mr.. McCullagh's
room explaining his act or leaving instruc-
tions for the arrangement OF his affairs
after DEATH"
Joseph b. McCullagh was born in Dub
lin, Ireland, in November, 1912, and when
but II years of age, came to this country
on a sailing ship, working his passage.
Arriving in New York in 1853, he was ap-
prenticed to learn the printing business
in the office of the Freeman's Journal.
Five years later, IN 1858, he came to st.
Louis, and entered the office of the Chris
| tian Advocate, as a reporter. In 1853, he
began work as a reporter on the Missouri
| Democrat. When the war broke out he
| acted as correspondent for the Cincinnati
| Commercial and this work gained him a
great reputation. Later, he acted as
| Washington correspondent for that paper.
In 1868, he became editor of the Cincin-
natl Enquirer, and subsequently, in 1870
went to Chicago and took charge of the
| Republican of that city. The great fire
/ of the following year swept the Republi-
can out of existence and Mr.. McCullagh
/ assumed editorial management of the
| Missouri Democrat Of St. Louis. The
| paper was later on consolidated with the
| Globe and Mr.. McCullagh continued in
/ charge Of the Globe-Democrat from that
| time to the present He never married.
Every minute detail surrounding tho
| tragic death of Mr.. McCullagh has been
| developed, and all confirm the theory of
! death by suicide. One of the mental ten
denotes of the deceased, known only to
a very few who were his intimates, was
the stoical belief that when life was %
burden 1t could, in good conscience, be
laid down. 1t is now admitted by his at
tendants that he committed suicide.
At 10 o'clock last night he was found in
bed almost asphyxiated, and unlighted
gas jets turned on. He was with diff
| Guilty revived. When his room was ex-
amined to-day the gas jets were again
found turned on. The attempt at gas
suffocation proved too slow for the de-
| termlned man, and in desperation he leap
ed from a window.
The death of no citizen of st. Louis
within a decade has caused such sensa-
| tion. All classes grieve at his tragic end,
| and none more so than the political oppo-
nents whom he valiantly fought and often
| vanquished. The details of the funeral
| obsequies and interment will be an
nounced tomorrow.