The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-12
HIS DRAMATIC SUICIDE
Albert James Lee Shot Himself
On the Street.
DESPONDENCY AND DRINK
In Full View of the Startled Pedestrian s
Lee Put Gun to His Head
and Fired One Shot
Was Enough

Quite number of people witnessed
| sensational suicide on the street yes
terday morning about half-past 10
o'clock when Albert James Lee, in fit
OF suicidal mania, developed by drink
and accentuated, by dependency,
stepped out on thessidewalk in front of
| the. office of Dr. Lee Holmes at 81 West
Broadway and put bullet in his brain.
Night before last Lee put in an ap-
pearance at the city Jail in an intoxi-
Gated condition and asked Jailer Sol
| Levy to take care of him for the night
As he seemed flighty and about on the
verge of tremens he was accommodated.
After being locked up he stood in the
| prisoners corridor some time and finally
went back in cell and stripped him
| self to the waist and, coming out, called
Jaller Levy and asked him for a gun.
Sol attempted to quiet Lee by telling
| him that he would think differently
when he felt better. Just then Officer
Barry put in an appearance and Lee
asked to see his gun. The officer show
ed it to him and he asked to be allowed
to take it. The request was denied,
Whereupon Lee stepped back and said:
well, take shot yourself" at the
same time pointing to his heart and
looking around to see where he would
fall, as though he fully expected the
officer to comply. Jailer Levy, think
ing to make Lee feel better, got him a
glass of whiskey, which he drank. The
stimulant seemed to make him feel bet
ter, for he remained quiet from that
time.
About 10 O'Clock in the forenoon yes
terday Lee called on Day Jailer Tom
Boyle and asked for drink. The jailer
informed him he had no whskey and
he then asked to see doctor. Jailer
Boyle told him the city physician treat
ed only cases of prisoners under arrest
and he then remarked: well, let me
out and I'll go see a DOCTOR" Jailer
Boyle gave him his effects, among
which was bank book showing a bal
ance at the State Savings bank of $780,
and allowed him to 60
Lee acted expeditiously from that
time. He went direct to the bank and
drew $5o. From there he went to Wehls
store and bought a 3S-caliber revolver
and some cartridges. In few minutes
he appeared at DIR. Holmes office. Or.
Holmes was lying down in rear room
and Lee walked in and asked to be
treated for a chronic disease. DR..
Holmes was not feeling very well and
told him to come in in an hour and he
would examine him. AS Lee turned
to go he muttered something and walk
ed over to one corner of the front office,
where T. H. Merithew, who was with
pr. Holmes, observed him apparently
fumbling with something. His back
was toward Mr.. Merithew and the lat
ter could not see what he was doing,
but from a remark he made as he fin
lshed 1T seems apparent he was loading
his gun. You needn't be afraid" Lee
said as he started toward the door, Just
then Thomas Wills stepped in He
did not observe what Lee had in his
hands, but thought he was fumbling
With his gloves. Lee passed out and the
door closed behind him. A second later
pedestrians on the street saw him put a
pistol to his head, there was a report
and the man pitched forward and fell
on his face on the pavement.
crowd quickly gathered around the
PROSTATE form. A hole over the right
ear, where the bullet entered from
winch the brain began to ooze and an |
other close to the left temple, where it
made its exit and from which the life |
blood spurted in stream, told unmis
takably that the suicidal attempt was |
successful. The gun was picked up and |
handed to Captain Dawson, who is act |
VI
holland, and as the suicide continued to |
breathe, though unconscious, Murray & |
freunds hospital ambulance was sum- |
moned, and he was sent to the hospital, |
Nothing could be done to save him,
however, and he died in about an hour.
Coroner Julien was notified and the
pody was sent to Sherman's undertake
ing rooms, where an inquest will be held
to-day.
1t is learned that Lee visited DR..
Bryant Tuesday and asked to be exam
lned. Dr. Bryant complied and in
FORMED Lee it would take six months to
cure him. For reply, he remarked:
On. guess | might as we'll take
shot at myself"
The suicide left no note explaining his
motive in destroying himself, but from
he facts known it seems apparent the
cause of the act was as stated
Lee came to Butte from Chicago
ipout 10 months ago and was given
employment at the Butte cafe as in
side steward. He remained in this posi-
Ion TIL last July. He then secured
employment under City Engineer Bick-
enbach during the summer. His latest
was on the Hennessv
oulldfng where he worked as a hod
'arrler and at laying tile flooring. His
there ceased two weeks
ago and since that time he had been
long nothing and had been drinking
heavily. All his employers refer to him
Is a good fellow and a willing worker
IND say his worst fault was his drink
ng.
Lee had wife and one child, but
whether they are living in Butte or not
mas been impossible to ascertain as
ct Lee lived at 81 East Park street
It house kept by Mrs Sarah Burke,
VINO states that he and his wife, or a
woman who passed as his wife, came |
o her house to live about a year ego.
they got along very nicely till three or
our months ago. when there was some |
rouble and the woman left him, Some |
hink this was not his wife, as he is {
inoWn to have said to several ac-
Iuaintances that his wife was in the /
Cast. An effort to locate the woman
asst evening was unsuccessful.
The deceased was a man about foot {
| inches tall. we'll built and was not :