The times., 1899-08-28

Newton ]. Holman, formerly a soldier in
the United States Army, whose home is in
Gardiner, Mon, made an unsuccessful
attempt to end his life by shooting himself
in the head with 32-calibre revolver and
inhaling illuminating gas in his room at
Cobb's Hotel, at the corner of Tenth and
E Streets northwest, some time after 1890
o'clock Saturday night. He was discovered
by Policeman Cochran, Of the Twelfth
Street station, who appeared at the hotel
in answer to a summons from William
Henry. bell boy, who noticed the odor of
gas and heard heavy breathing in Holman's
room. The discovery was made at $40
o'clock yesterday morning, and immediate
ly afterward Cochran sent the unconscious
man to the Emergency Hospital. where the
efforts Of the physicians TO resuscitate him
were successful. Holman is still at the
hospital, and at a late hour last night was
reported TO be entirely out of danger
The motive for the attempted suicide is
not known, but from letters found in Hol-
mans room ii would appear that an un-
fortunate love affair was the principal
trouble which actuated the man to make
the attempt.
He left sealed letter addressed to Ida
H Taylor, at Fort Yellowstone, Wyo On
a piece of letter paper was written a short
note in which Holman requested that the
sealed letters be mailed without being
opened. The note further said: MY name
is Newton Holman. | have no friends
closer than 1000 miles, SO you need not look
for them. ! came here from Wyoming on
the 18th of August. Was in the United
States Army six years" In addition TO the
md ho ccalpd csvpral letters
from woman who signed herself Ida,
and who is supposed to be Ida Goddard,
were found. These letters were replete with
expressions of solicitude and love. They
spoke of a trouble which had existed be-
tween the writer and Holman, and at times
made pitiful appeals for forgiveness and
reconciliation.
An admission was made by the writer
of having been false once, but giving as
surance that il would never occur again,
and that Holman's name would not b
disgraced. Two of the letters were signed,
Lovingly, your wife, Ida one ended.
Your sweetheart (once), Ida," and still
others concluded with Your loving sweet
heart" and Yours, lovingly, Ida In one
of the letters the writer states that she is
sorry to know that Holman loves another
girl She claims that the blow viii kill
her, and, though she feels she has done
wrong she thinks her atonement should
save her from additional suffering. Hol
man would not discuss the letters, nor
would he state what caused him TO attempt
to end his life. He would only say he
wanted to die.
Holman had been a guest at Cobb's Hotel
since Friday. He came TO the city, as his
note stated, August Is, and engaged room
at the Cutler House There he remained
until he moved to the irst-named hotel
| He stated to those with whom he con-
yersed that he had been in the Army and
| had recently been patient at the hospital
| at Fort Yellowstone, Wyo He suffered
| greatly from wound in his right leg until
ultimately, in order to give him relief, am
putation of the member was resorted to.
| At the hotel little is known of Holman.
He retired Saturday night at 10:30 o'clock
after being served with two bottles of beer
and a half pint of whisky. Nothing was
seen of the man from that time until yes
| terday morning, when he was found un-
| conscious in his room.
AT just what time Holman shot himself
| is not known. Jake Kilran, the pugilist,
occupied an adjoining room, and did not
| hear the pistol shot. 1t is supposed from
| the condition of the man that the act was
| committed at an early hour in the morn
| ing. Holman turned on the gas in his
room and after closing the single window
and locking the door shot himself while in
bed. The bullet struck the left side of the
forehead, and, without injuring the skull,
cut furrow in the skin for several inches
until IL glanced of just in front of the ear.
| When Policeman Cochran forced the room
door blood was still flowing from the
wound. The pistol was lying near Hol-
mans right hand. Near the pistol was q
piece of note paper on which was traced
the outline of revolver and a cartridge
Within the outline was written. This is
what ended my trouble" Cochran saw
that life was not extinct and lost no time
in getting the man to the hospital. There
the physicians worked on their patient fol-
over two hours. II is probable that an eff
fort will be made to communicate with
some relative or friend of the unfortunate
4