New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
MYSTERY IN THIS SHOOTING
J. B. sTILLwELL FOUND WITH A BULLET
IN HIS BRAIN.

HE SAYS A REVOLVER HE WAS HANDLING WAS
ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED. BUT cIRcUM-
ArANCEs POINT TO AN ATTEMPT AT
suIc1DE-HEAD OF THE MARsToN
REMEDY COMPANY AND
WEIGHED DOWN BY
BUSINESS TROUBLES.
J. p. stillwe proprietor OF the Marston
Remedy Company. at No. ~ PARK Place Man
haitian and a member OF the Hanover Club
BROOKLYN. shot himself in the temple last Thurs
day at his home. No. 80 Garden Place. Brook
lyn. under circumstances that raise doubt
as 70 whether the shooting was accidental or
intentional Mr. Stillwer asserts that 1t was an
accident His condition was such last night
tbat bis deoth was looked for within twenty
four hours.
According to the statement made by Mr. Still
we'll 10 the physicians. he was seated In his
bedroom at IL o'clock Thur ,day morning ex-
aiming a revolver.
81 was handling Il In a somewhat careless
manner" he said when 1T was discharged and
the bullet entered my right temple"
Then Mr. StiIlwell said. he continued to sit
in his easy chair with the bullet in his brain
He raised no cry. The other members OF the
family were In a distant part OF the house. and
had heard no shot. 1t was nearly two hours
after the revolver went of that Mrs Stillwell
entered the room to learn why her husband
had not come down to dinner She was greatly
shocked at seeing him seated In the chair with
the right side Of his face covered with blood.
He explained feeble voice what had hap
pened. and she sent a member Of the house
hold for doctor
Dr. l.. j. Morton at No 1903 Henry was
the nearest physician, and he was summoned.
although he was not the family physician. DR..
Morton did what he could 10 relieve his patient.
He quickly learned that the bullet was buried
In Mr.. Stwelrs brain, and that there was
little hope for him.
When asked yesterday why he had not re-
ported the matter to the Coroner. DR.. Morton
said that he considered the case an accident
and was thu, under no obligation TO report to
the Coroner.
Mr. Stillwen Is pas. middle age and was
prosperous business man. Lately he had suf-
fered from reverses. For the last five years his
friends say his business affairs have weighed
heavily on his mind. lie bought the business
OF the Marston Remedy Company several years
ago. His sons were engaged in business with
him. and about a year ago differences arose be-
tween the father and sons and since then Mr.
friends say they have heard him threaten TO
take his life and say that the cares Of his bust
ness were so heavy that he would end them by
jumping from a ferryboat
Several Of his business friends felt such sym
pa thy for his troubles that II IS said they were
arranging 10 give him material assistance in
Strengthening his affairs
-Four or five weeks 90 Mr.. StillwelTs business
was placed in the hands Of Vincent G. Hamill
receiver The chief creditor is the Nassau
Bank. to which he owes 5000
Mr.. Stillwell lived In the Eastern District
HiC oklyn. for number of years. He occupied
a fiat opposite the Hanover Club. Several
months ago he moved to Harlem. and only a few
weeks ago he moved TO Garden Place.
A daughter Of Mr. Stillwell answered the door
hell yesterday and said that her father was on
the road to recovery. Dr. Morton on the con-
trary. said that he could recover only through
miracle.
The Rev. Dr. John Coleman Adams, pastor OF
All Souls Unversalist Church. was hurrledly
summoned TO the house on Friday.
This case has points OF similarity with the re-
cent suicide OF w. h. Kendall. who lived not far
from the Stillw lis in First Place.