The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-05
TIME OF DEATH UNKNOWN
WAS SEEN AT THE CAPITAL
CLUB AT 9 O'CLOCK WE'D
NESDAY NIGHT.
HAD BEEN A GREAT SUFFERER FOR YEARS
From Chronic Neuralgia and Headache and Was
Very Despondent. The Funeral Occurs
To-day ALTA. N. from Mrs.
Parker's Residence.

The city was greatly shocked yester-
day afternoon by the intelligence that
Robert GattIing had committed suicide
in his room at the residence of Mrs
Annie Parker on Edenton street.
At first he was thought to have taken
the colored driver Henry, at Mrs. Park
cr's said he had heard pistol shot be-
tween 5 and 4 o'clock. Strangely
enough the driver did not mention his
having heard the shot to any one except
the cook until yesterday afternoon.
1t appears now that the deed may
have been done at some time Gurln-
Wednesday night, as two of the colored
WALTERS at the Capital Club building,
John and jackson, both state positively
that he was at the club for Il few
minutes about 8 o'clock on "Wednesday
night: members of the club say, also,
that they saw him at the club at >
o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. On
the other hand Mrs. Parker is positive
that he did not leave his room after
going to it about l o'clock Oh Wednes-
day. and a servant says that when she
entered the room to take a pitcher of
water later in the afternoon. he was
lying ON the bed with the pistol i'll his
hand. as when found, but she thought
he was asleep The only explanation
suggested is that the people at the club
may have been mistaken as to the day
when they saw him, as he was an
habitue of the club
His aunt, Mrs. Parker. had noted
his absence, but had attached no i'm
portance to it as he frequently spent the
night with some of his relatives III the
city. About $3.50 o'clock yesterday
afternoon Henry Mckee and Marshall
De Lancey Haywood called at the resi-
dence of Mrs. Parker to see Mr. Gatlings.
To them the negro driver man,."nel
his having heard a pistol shot. The
companion of Mrs. Parker went to MIR.
Gatling's room and came back and re-
ported that she could not rouse him.
DR.. Knox was called in and in company
with the two young men went imme-
diateIy to Mr.. Cuttings room and found
his lifeless body.
1t appears that he had lain down on
the bed with a looking glass and The
revolver and placing the muzzlc OF the
Death apparently was instantaneous, as
there was no evidence of any movement
after the shot was fired; the revolver
was lying OH his breast, and the looking
glass was still clasped in his hand. The
door of the room was not locked.
Mrs. Parker spent the night at home,
but did not hear the shot. She is rather
aged
Relatives of Mr. Gatling were in
formed Immediately after the body was
found, but it was not Gecmea necessary
that any inquest be held.
On Wednesday morning Mr.. Gatling
had called at the residence of his brother,
Mr.. George Gatling, and had asked
Mrs. Gatling to keep a diamond ring for
him. He said he thought he would go
to the country fishing and borrowed "A
32-calibre Smith and Wesson revolver,
which he took away with him, but moth
ing was thought of ii as he seemed in
much better spirits than usual.
After leaving his brothers house he
went to the Capital Club and spent
some time in writing what was pre-
srnlably his will, as the package was
subsequently found on the table III his
ROOM \ friend walked home with him
from the club and went up to his room.
When leaving Mr.. Gatling excused him
self from going down as he said his
room was cooler. Apparently no one
saw him alive after that except the
walters at the Capital Club, and some
members of the club who claim to have
seen him at 3 O'Clock.
Mr.. Calling was in his 18th year and
had been great sufferer all his life from
neuralgia of the head and chronic sick
headache He had gone north some
months ago and had an operation per-