The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-18
Beecher Shot Himself While In
Summer House at The Park
SAYS IT WAS CASE OF ACCIDENT
Was Locking Down Barrel Of Revolver When
Weapon Was DIschargsd-Ths poIIcs
Find Indications Of Attempted Suicide.

n man SlNiHS MS iane as DAVID w.
Beecher of 46o Lexington Ave. New York.
was last evening found in one of the sum
mer houses OF Roger williams Park with
a bullet wound in his temple
A little after 6 o'clock, as one OF the
park employees was making his way
through the park toward Broad street. he
heard a man calling from the rustic sum-
mer house near the north lake.
When the employe had advanced within
Ineligible hearing distance, the man
said: "Go find an officer. ! am shot 1
was looking into the barrel Of my revolver
and a cartridge exploded"
The cmploye hurried TO the barn near
E.mwood avenue. hoping 10 find an off,
Ger there, but he had gone to supper. The
messenger then went out on Elmwood
avenue, and, seeing Officer j. b. lack,
told him OF the accident.
Accompanied by Park Watchman Frank
Holland Officer Black went TO the sum-
mer house. and the wounded man was
carried to the barn Office.
He was conscious and gave an explana-
ton of the afrair while awaiting tho ar
rival of an ambulance. which had been
summoned from the Rhode Island Hos
pital.
THEORY OF THE POLICE.
BY the mans side was found a FIVE
chamber revolver with three cartridges
unexploded-
The fact that the wound was I'm the
right temple and that the revolver had
been close enough to the head so that
the powder burned into the mans flesh
caused the police to believe that IL was
inflicted with suicidal intent
To Sergt. Potter Of the eth district sta
ton. Reecher insisted that the wound was
accidental claiming that he was looking
down the barrel of the revolver TO see IL
IL was loaded, when the weapon was
suddenly discharged
He further said that he is a real estate
broker. and had been In this city two
weeks on business, stopping at the Hotel
Patton.
Although conscious all the while. the
man appeared TO be in a somewhat dazed
condition. He was not bleeding freely.
although the barrel of the revolver was
spattered with blood. He appeared TO be
suffering considerably. however. and upon
the arrival OF the ambulance. about $40
o'clock was Immediately taken to the
hospital
He was able TO walk into the building.
with little assistance.
The bullet lodged in the mans head
somewhere. although the leaden pellet
was not located last night.
Beecher gave his age as 5s years. is we'll
dressed and prosperous looking. He told
the police that he is widower and that
he has no children. He stuck 10 his story
that the shooting was accidental and gave
no evidence either by his manner or by
his conversation that his mind was affect
ed.
HERE SINCE AUGUST.
At the Hotel Patton IL was stated that
Beecher first came there on Aug. 30. His
name appears on the register again under
the date of Sept 10 but that was merely
as matter OF convenience in straighten-
ing out board payment. He had been
there continuously since the 30th OF Au-
gust. He had intended 10 go 10 New York
last night by boat. IL was stated, though
he did not give up his room yesterday af-
ternoon. his gripssck still being in IL.
Capt Kinyon OF the Hotel Patton said
he did not think that Beecher mad before
stopped there-tha this was his first visit
TO the Hallett. Beecher had appeared
quiet and gentlemanly but seemed we'll
10 do. 1t was his custom to sit about the
hotel in the morning. smoke and read the
papers until about 10 o'clock and then go
out
He generally returned about II o'clock
at night. At the hotel they said that
they did not know what his business was.
He did not seem to care TO talk much
with the guests and was reticent about
himself or his affairs.
VERY QUIET OF LATE.
A young woman in the hotel ONCE said
she had noticed that Beecher had been
more quiet thar usual for the last few
days, and she thought he had appeared
Respondent.
Capt. Kinyon said that he had noticed
no change in the mans demeanor. He
did not appear to be worried over money
matters. His board was always promptly
paid, and he even showed uncommon
punctuality In paying his bills.
This morning IL was stated at the
Rhode Island Hospital that Beecher was
more comfortable than he had been dur
ing the night. but II was impossible to
give any definite opinion as to his chances
of recovery.