The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-18
DEATH OF W. R. CALDWELL,
The Result of seIf-Inficted Wound
Willie Intoxicated.

The Result of self-Inficted Wound
While Intoxicated.
William r. Caldwell. who attempted
suicide on the night of October 81 by
shooting. himself through the left
breast, died at st. Paul's hospital yes
terday morning from the effe rs of his
wound. Caldwell was a plumber and
was In the employ of A. 7. Walker A
rev days before the commission If the
rash act he commenced drinking ard
Kept 1T UP steadily. On the night of
October "a the other inmates OF Inc
Williams house, where Caldwell II M
cd, heard the report Of a gun. The
sound came from Caldwelrs room and
one OF the men in the house went 10
the door. He found it locked ard, re-
ceiving no response when he caii.d TO
the man within, he forced the door
Caldwell was found lying on the
springs of the bed, partially dressed.
He said he had shot himself The room
was filled with smoke and it was soon
ascertained that the shot had set fire
to the bedding and Caldwell lad
thrown 1t out of the window. A search
was made for the gun on the outside,
where the bedding was found. but the
weapon was never found, or, if 1t was,
the person finding it never let it be
known.
An ambulance was called and Cai1-
well was taken to st. Pauls hospital,
where II was found the bullet had
penetrated the left lung. Under DR..
Wells treatment the man commence
to improve and continued to Cor some
time. At one time 1t was thousat he
was out OF danger. A few days ago
pneumonia set in and the patient COM
menced to grow worse. He sank st, ad-
lily till the end came yesterday mo,n-
ing about 10 o'clock.
What rnnttva Caldyual1 nry-15 bauo
had in wishing to take his life was a
great mystery. and still is. He was
not hard up, and as far as could be
ascertained there was no reason fer
the act. It was thought at the time
that he may have been disguised with
himself because of having been iltoxi-
Gated for several days, but as he was
not habitually addicted to the r*e Of
drink to excess this did not appear 10
furnish a reasonable motive.
The night he shot himself he refused
to tell why he did it, and all the time
he was at the hospital he said moth
ing that might have given an inl1l:ng
as to what prompted MIN. All he ever
said to the attendants on the snhifct
was that he was a coward, but whet he
meant by that he did not say.
When Caldwell first went to the hos
pftal he seemed Indifferent whether lie
got well or not, but toward the las- he
repented the act and was very desirous
of recovering. The hospital people said
he was the most patient man they ever
had anything to do with. Shortly be-
fore he died he became deliraus and
seemed to think he could see his wife,
who died some years ago. He would
call her by name and say, Il will be
with YOU soon"
The body was removed to Richards
undertaking rooms, where an inquest
will be held this evening by Coroner
Julien. M
Caldwell came to Butte at the time
of the organization of the neay plumb
ers' union and went to WORK for Mr.
Walker. 1t was learned from him while
he was at the hospital that he was
from Boston. where he has a sister ard
a 12-year-old son, who lives with the
grandfather on the mothers side. lie
also said he had sister living some
where in Oregon. He had no relatives
here. He was 81 years Of age