The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-05
EDWARD RUSSE'S DEATH
THE PHYSICIANS THINK THE YOUNG
MAN COMMITTED SUICIDE.
He Was n Member Of the Fire De.
partment and a Son of Henry
Russo, Seed Merchant.

ST can't stand it any longer, tell all
goodbye" These were the last words of
Edward Russo he lay dying at his
boarding place. 225 South East street, last
night, with three doctors bending over
him. Coroner Nash said that death was
due to morphine poisoning, and. judging
from the remark, it was taken with sui
cidal intent.
Russo was member of the fire depart
men and was assigned to No. engine
house He has been "subbing' for about
a year, and has only been regularly en-
ployed at the engine house about sixty
days He was twenty-five years DID, and a
son Of Henry Russo, proprietor Of seed
store at Is North Capitol avenue. Until
last Monday he lived at the home Of his
parents, sol North California street. when
he moved to the boarding house of Mrs.
Annie Kretsch, where he died.
No one seems to know of any reason why
he should take his own life He is said to
have been of a jovial disposition by some.
while some of his comrades in the fire de-
partment say he was very quiet and hard
to understand from his general conduct.
Saturday had been Russes regular day
for Wednesday in order that he might at
tend a wedding. Thursday he had a SUBJ
stitute put in his place and spent Thursday
night at home. His father says that he
complained of being sick and Of his heart
paining him. He said that he got up and
put a pot Of coffee on the stove for his own
breakfast. still complaining, but insisting
that he must report. as his leave OF abb
sence would soon expire. Mr.. Russo said
he told his son that IL he felt bad he need
not go to work and that he could telephone
fused and went to the engine house, ar
irving between and s o'clock. Captain
Barrett says that Russo complained to him
of being sick and asked If he could not
send for DR.. Christian, the firemen's physi-
clan Captain Barrett told him he could.
and Russo went out Of the house. He sup
posed he had gone to see DR.. Christian,
but when he called up at noon he was in
formed that Russo had not been there.
THE LANDLADY'S STORY.
Mrs. Kretsch said that Russo came to her
house about s o'clock for breakfast but did
not eat much. Later he went to his room.
Mrs. Kretsch says that she or some of the
women about the house were in his room
at various times during the day to adj
minister to his wants, but he would have
nothing. She said the last visit was about
4 o'clock in the afternoon, when he said he
wished to sleep. Between and o'clock a
companion, D. " H. Alien, VINO was FORMER
ly in the fire department, went to his room
and found him in a stupor, from which
he could not be aroused. He called to Mrs.
kretsch and then DR.. Moore was sum-
moned. Later DR.. Ward was called in and
then DR.. Pink Every effort was made to
save his life, but he died before 9 o'clock.
A message was also sent to his father and
a brother. who arrived just before he died.
From the time of the last visit OF one OF
the women, about oclock, he did not re-
gain consciousness, except to utter the
statement Il can't stand 1t any longer, tell
all goodbye"
Mr.. Russo said he knew no reason why
his son should commit suicide, as he had
had pleasant home. The members Of the
nothing out of the way. Captain Barrett,
of his fire company, said that he had no.
ticed something wrong about Russo for at
least a week, and was convinced he drank
when he took his day off. He said that
Russo had pint Of whisky yesterday
morning when he was at the engine house,
which he bought at a nearby saloon. Cap
the step he was taking, but other than this
he was not reprimanded. So far as he
knew there was no cause for his suicide.
The further the investigation went to dis
cover some motive for self-destruction the
less light there was thrown upon the mat
| ter. Russe's father said that he is posi-
| tive when his son left his house yesterday
morning he had his months wages, $50,
and a diamond pin in his pocket. When
| the pockets of the dead man were exam
| ined there was only 45 cents, 25-cent piece
and four nickels.
The body was removed to the home of
his father and no further autopsy will be
| Coroner Nash last night. The burial will
he