The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-09
he BLEW OUT
HIS BRAINS.
Capt. Louis Ostheim of First U.
s. Artillery,
Commits Suicide at the Audi
tOrium Annex, Chicago.
SHOT HIMSELF IN BED.
Was to Have Been Married in
That City Today.
Had Recently Come From Phil
ippines For That Purpose.

Chicago. April Capt Louis Ostheim
First United States artillery, who was
to have been married today to Mrs Eva
Bruce Wood at the home of her uncle.
Walter B. Phister. in this city. was
found dead in his bed at the Auditoium
Annex last night There was a bullet
wound il his right temple The finding
of a revolver in the bed, the nature Of
the wound and the position of the body
all indicated that he had committed
suicide.
From the fact that Captain Ostheim
was last seen about the hotel Saturday
night, it is supposed that he took his
life some time between then and Sunday
morning. When his door was found
/ locked late last night after being lock-
ed all day, an investigation was made
and the discovery Of the suicide re-
suited.
Captain Ostheim was 3S years old. He
was born in Pennsylvania and educated
at West Point In 1888 he was admitted
to the army. Previous to the Spanish
American war he was stationed at Fort
! Sheridan and it was during his stay
| there that he made the acquaintance of
/ Mrs. Wood. He came from Philadel-
/ phia and registered at the Annex on
| April ,, having recently returned from
service with the Sixth artillery in the
/ Philippines for the express purpose of
/ celebrating his wedding.
| Among the articles found in the cap
! tain's room were two wedding rings.
one was of heavy gold and inscribed as
I follows. Eva to Louis, April 9, 1900"
/ The other was smaller and more deli
| cately made Inside was engraved
Louis to Eva, April 6, 1907
The cause of the suicide is a mystery
/ Nothing was left in the room TO throw
any light on the matter.
The only writing found was the fol-
lowing address on an empty envelope:
Miss Clara Ostheim. 1872 North Sew
/ eTlth street. Philadelphia, Pa
In the pockets of the captains cloth
ing were found eight $50 bills, five so
bills, and a check for $40.
/ Captain Ostheim registered at the Au-
ditorium annex on Monday, April ?, one
/ week ago today. He seemed TO be in
excellent health, showed the tan of his
Philippine campaigning II his face, and
was reserved in his manner
The captain was last seen alive on
/ Saturday night at 9 o'clock, when he
asked the clerk for the key to his
/ room.
When a chambermaid went to his
/ room Sunday morning she found the
door locked. This was not unusual, and
! the girl went about her work in other
rooms. Returning to Captain Ostheims 5
[ apartment she found the door still
locked. Then she reported the circusn-
stance to the Office. The clerks con-
cluded that the captain was tired and
desired a long sleep, and made no effort
to open the door till last night
Captain Ostheim was lying on the
bed dead As stated there was a bull
let hole in his right temple, and under
his body was a new revolver
The captain was born in Pennsylva-
mia about 50 years ago Soon after
joining the state militia he applied for
ion 70
tary academy at West Point He
passed his examinations and graduated
IN 1888 He became q second lieutenant
of the Third artillery on June 13, 1883.
His first service was at jackson bar
racks. Louisiana, where he remained
until 1886.
He then secured a leave of absence
for a year On his return to the service
Lieut.. Ostheim was placed in charge of
Fort SIyer Va He left that post on
April Is, 1887, and went to Washington
Barracks, in the District of Columbia
In 1SSS he returned to the artillery
school for practice and on May ., 1891.
became first lieutenant of the Second
artillery. In 1888 he was transferred to
the Sixth artillery.
/ When the Spanish-American war
broke out Lieut. Ostheim was ordered
to the Philippines On October 16, the
/ army register shows that Lieut. -OStheim
was transferred TO the First artillery as
captain, and probably was assigned to
Z battery, as that was the only battery
Of that organization serving in the
Philippines
Captain Ostheim's military history
throughout is a record of transfers to
more important posts and of promotions
in rank
Mr.. Phister was notified Of the death.
I am sure the captains death was
caused by an accident" said Mr.. PhIs- =
| ter. He was perfectly happy and had
made minute arrangements for his
wedding tomorrow. He had even bought
tickets for his bride and himself to Gin
cinnati, which was to be the first stage
/ in their wedding journey. He had given
one ticket to Mrs Wood so that she
might get her trunk checked The only
trouble the captain had to worry him
was insomnia
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL SHOOT
ING.
4 verdict Of death by an accidental
wound was decided on today by the
coroner's jury in the case of Captain
Louis Ostheim of the First United
States artillery. who was found dead
last night in his apartments at the Az
ditorium annex At first it was be
lieved that the death of Capt Ostheim
was a premeditated suicide. but nc
motive has been found for such an act
and after listening to considerable teS-
timony the jury rendered its verdict