The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-29
ENDED LIFE WITH A BULLET.
SAMUEL L. NEWTON SHOT HIMSELF
THROUGH THE HEAD.

His Mind Had Been Unbalanced for
Some Time and He Had Been Kept
Under Watch by His Family-Dur-
ing Moments Absence of His
Wife He Escaped From His Room
TO the stable and Fired the Fatal
shot-was to Have Been Sent Away
for Treatment This Week.
Samuel L. Newton committed suicide
yesterday afternoon about $50 o'clock by
shooting himself in the head with pis-
toll The act took place in the stable in
the rear of his home at Broughton and
Montgomery streets. Mrs. Newton, who
had missed her husband from his room,
and was looking for him when she heard
the report of the pistol, was the first to
reach him He died almost instantly.
Coroner Goette was notified but after an
examination decided that an inquest was
unnecessary.
The suicide was 50 years old, and leaves
a wife and two children. He was a veter-
an of the Civil War, and came to this city
in 1852 and was for a time employed in
the freight department of the Central
Railroad. He first became interested in
the grocery business about 1872, when he
became a clerk for Mr.. H. f. Graham in
the same store that he occupied at the
time of his death. He was an industrious
and conscientious business man and held
the confidence of all, who had dealings
with him.
Some years ago as the result OF a severe
spell of sickness his mind became affect
ed, the affectation becoming more mark
ed as time passed, but his affection was
then known only to his family physician
and his immediate family. Some months
ago, however, 1T became evident to his
physician that his condition was serious
and he urged Mrs. Newton TO get her
husband away from his business where,
freed from care, he might recover. For
the last several days, in fact since Tues
day, so unbalanced was Mr.. Newton, that
he had been kept in his room, and under
the careful watch of the doctor and the
family, as once before, about two months
ago, he had made an attempt on his life,
and IL was feared he might repeat it.
Just before he fired the fatal shot he
was in the room with his wife and
near relative. The latter was called into
an adjoining room to see about something,
and during his absence, Mr.. Newton in
duced his wife 10 go downstairs to de-
liver a message to one OF the
clerks. No sooner was Sne OUT Oh the
room that he slipped through another door
and went down into the stable.
Finishing her errand, Mrs. Newton re-
turned to the room only to find her hus-
band missing. She started Immediately
down stairs TO look for him, but as she
was on the steps she heard the report
of the pistol which ended his life.
The weapon he had bought two weeks
before and hidden in the stable, having
probably planned long before hand the act
that ended his life
A report of his condition had been made
to the ordinary only the day before and
a hearing had been arranged for Mon
day afternoon.
The deceased was for many years a
member of the First Baptist Church; he
was also member OF Clinton Lodge of
Masons, Live Oak Lodge of Odd Fellows,
Knights of Damon and the Grocers AS
ISOLATION.
1t is probable that both the Masons and
The Odd Fellows will attend his funeral,
which will take place this afternoon. The
burial will be made at Bonaventure Gem
etery.