The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-12
A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
J. Pfetch. of Richmond. Attempts
10 Commit Suicide.

Shoots Himself IN His Room ut the
Sc. James HotcI-IIIncss Assigned
a. the Cause for the Rash Deed.
Little Chance for His Recovery.
J. r Pfetch. Of Richmond. Va, guest
at the St James Hotel. attempted TO com
NIT suicide about o'clock this morning
by shooting himself in the head with "a
revolver. lie now lies at the Emergency
Hospital in a critical condition. with prac-
tically no chance Of recovery.
Ul-heaIth is supposed TO have been the
cause of the attempt made by Pfetch
upon his own life The following letter.
ADDRESSED to T.. c. Frese. esq. i South
Ninth Street, Richmond. Va, was found
among his effects
My Dear Mt. FrcSe- I have seen the
doctor and had a long consultation. The
prescription is the samc-to go to some
health resort and get regular treatment
for two OF three months, which is impOs-
sible for me to do. considering my present
circumstances.
"Catarrh and malaria have done their
work The pain in the back Of my head
is intense and my strength is all gone 1
am exceedingly sorry I could not hold out
until the road was finished. and save You
this additional trouble I am certain
have worked hard and suffered much in
several respects. Would like to be ere
mattel No funeral"
This letter was upon paper furnished
by the hotel dated November Il. and bore
the signature J. +. Pfetch.'
Mr.. Pfotch arrived in Washington Sun
day night and registered at the St
James Hotel He stated that he expected
to stay three or four weeks and asked
for comfortable room. The house was
crowded and he was assigned to a small
room for the night. but yesterday was
given a large. wcIl-furnished room. He
was gentleman Of apparent refinement
and evidently possessed Of all the avail
able money he needed. But little was
seen Of him and nothing was learned as
to who and what he was.
Shortly before o'clock this morning
the Waterman of the hotel George Ar
thur, was startled by three pistol shots.
fired in rapid succession. He traced the
noise TO a certain corridor, where a guest
opened his door and said that they
seemed to come from the room adjoining.
This room was locked, and no reply was
made to repeated knocks. The od0r of
powder was detected near the cracks in
the door, and the night clerk, who was
notified, called in Policeman Mullen.
Entrance into the room through a win
dow was then forced, and it was found
that PfetCh was lying across the bed with
a bullet hole in his head. lie was un-
conscious, and by his side lay a small
30 caIibre revolver. He was fully dressed,
and the bed had not been occupied.
Every attention WAS given the injured
man by the hotel employees The ambu-
lance from the Emergency Hospital was
quickly summoned. i'm which he was re-
moved 10 that Institution When placed
upon the operating table il was found
that the bullet had entered back of the
right ear, and, passing entirely through
the head emerged just above the right
eye. How badly lacerated the brain tissue
Is has not been determined bot II Is
thought that the mans chances for rsCuV-
cry are slight He has not TCEaiued con-
seriousness since the shooting.
Mr. Pfetch had bat little luggage with
him, his baggage consisting OF dress
suit case and an OyerCOat. He had about
80 in money and check for So i'm his
pocket. Mr. Pfctch wore a Masonic
charm on his watch chain. and had hand
some cuff buttons From his CORES pon-
dence it is believed that he is connect ed
with some street railroad enterprise in
the vicinity Of Richmond.