The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-01
JOSEPH M 'CULLACH.
Editor Of the St. Louis Globe Dem.
ocrat Accidentally Killed.
lie PLUNGED OUT OF HIS WINDOW.
Fell Twenty-Five Feet and Mas Dead
When Found.
EVIDENTLY SEEKING RELIEF
From Escnping Gas, He Was Over
come by Weakness ana TOPplcd
out of the Window.

st. Louis, December Si.--Mr. Joseph Nc
Cullagh, editor OF the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. and one of the best known news
paper men in the city. is dead as the result
OF fall of twenty-five foot from second
story window at his apartments at tho
residence Of his sister law, Mrs. Kate
Manlon, at SS57 West boulevard The body.
which was cold in death and clad only IN
a nlghtgown. was discovered by Mrs. Ma
MONS colorod man servant about o'clock
this morning.
There seems to be a difference OF opinion
as to whether Mr.. McCullagh's death was
due to accident or was the result OF his
own act, This latter theory Is secuted by
the dead mau's friends.
Waters, the colorud servant without even
touching the body. ran. frightened. Into
the house. where he told the cook OF tho
discovery. She Immediately called Mrs.
Manion, who had not yet arisen, and told
her that MIR. McCullagh had fallen out OF
his window and killed himself"
The announcement was a severe shock to
Mrs. Manlon and 1t was several minutes
before she washable to control herself. I'M
mcdiatrly on being notified by the servant.
Mrs, Manion dispatched her coachman to
summon Dr. c. II. Hughes, who rcstdes
in the ncighhorhood and who was Mr., Me
Cullaghs physician during his last Illness.
lie hastoned to the house. examined tho
body and ordered 1t removed to the house.
The Globo-nemocrat will say:
DR.. Hughes conclusion IL that Mr.. Nc
Cullagh plunged head first from tho win
dow about 3 30 o'clock. ON the ground
around the foundation OF the house Is a
stone water table. In the fail MIR. McCul-
lDgh struck II sharp corner OF the stone with
the lett side OF his head, tracturinS tho
Iarietal hone. This caused conclusion of
| the brain and probably caused death. Trio
| physician Is OF the opinion that death fol-
| lowed immediately after the fall The VIC
TINS head was lying In small pool of
| blood which had dripped from the wound.
| but otherwise IL showed no evidences OF vi
| uloncc
Just how Mr.. McCullaeh happened TO fall
| out of tho window can only he matter OF
| conjecture. lie had been i'll several months
I and iatcriy WAS compelled to Keep his room.
| lie passed his last nght unattended. as ne
| had always slept well during his illncss.
Wednesday evening Mn McCullagh was IN
the hest of spirits though lie complained
| Of not being 30 we'll The smotherlnB SEN
satlon which has troubled him during his
| Illness had returned to him In mild form
and rendered him anguld aud drowsy.
He retired to bed about o'clock. leaving
word with the household that he did not
| wish tn he disturbed unless II was by his
physician. Or. Hughes made his customary
night call about : 20 and expressed surprise
| to MIR. McCullagh at finding him IN bed at
such an early hour
Il am weary" said Mr. McCullagh, and
| thought ] would get MS much rest as possi-
BILE tonight. | expect my barber early ID
the morning 20 trim my hair ana want
TO be up when he arrives.
The doctor administered to his patients
needs saw that everything In the :oom
was fixed for the night and that the north
| window Wus raised about an Inch FOR vcn-
! M
goodnight turned OFF the electric light and
retired. .
Before going to bed Mrs. Manion looked
into MIR. McCulagh's room and saw thai
every thing was In crder and then retired
to her own apartments. About midnigh,
she woke and detected an odor Of escaping
gus She investigated. and found i burner
in the combination electric Chandelier
which hangs suspended in the center o.
Mr.. McCullaghs room. open. The odof VI
gas was very strong IN the apartments
Mr.. McCullagh woke up.
Joe" she said, did you know gas wai
escaping in your room. You would have
been a dead man in the morning II l had
moi discovered IT,.
Mr.. MeCullagh was apparently to
drowry 10 re,lize what his sister said. HI
murmured iraudiby a reply. and fell
asleep.
Mrs Manion raised the open window {
little so that fumes Of gas would leave thu
room. and then returned 10 bed.
Indications seem 10 be that Mr.. McCui
! Iagh had gotten out OF bed FOR something
| and in trying to turn on an electric liBh
he turned on the gas. He did not notici
the escape, and retired again, unconsciou
OF danger.
Careful investigation warrants the con
clusion that Mr.. MoCullagh was awakenes
later in the morning by smothering at
tack, and climbing out of bed again ner
vous and unsteady from tho spell. went :
the window for more air. AZ he thought
: he threw the sash up to Its full height. mn
! he was probably overcome with weakness
lost his balance and rolled over the windo'
sill and fell to his death.
The funeral Is set for o'clock Saturday
afternoon at Manions residence. aRev. DR.
W. W. Boyd. pastor Of the Second Baptis
church, and Rev. John Snyder. a promi
r nent minister OF this city. VIII conduc
, the services Mr.. Joseph u. McCullagl
, was born In ireland. and with his brothe
+ came to this country In his youth. Hi
first important newspaper work was dom
in Cincinnati as a reporter and core
spondent upon the Enquirer Later h
went to Chicago, and took the managing
editorship OF the Chicago Republican sue
+. ceeding Charles A. Dana. He occupied TIL
position until shortly after the Chicag
! fire, when he went to st. Louis and too
= the cditorship OF the st. Louis Globt
! which was eventually consolidated wit
: the Democrat and became the Globe-Demt