The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-08
The Other Mans Motive for Se1f-De-
structiOn Not Discovered by
the Police.
RATHER QUEER COINCIDENCE
1T Is NOT THOUGHT THAT THE MEN
KNEW EACH OTHER.
The Body of Robert Killian Not Yet
Claimed by Relatives-May
Not Live Here.

Two men took their lives in Little's Ho-
tel, New Jersey and Washington streets,
yesterday morning. The first man found
was Thomas Sharpe, twenty years old,
whose mother lives at s23 Meek street. The
other body found was that Of Robert Kill
liam, a music teacher. Little is known of
his history.
Both men went to the hotel during 6atur-
day night and rented rooms. Attaches of
the hotel said neither showed signs of
drinking and were given rooms on the sec
ond floor. Sharpe was the first man to
come to the hotel. He entered the office
about IL o'clock Saturday night with his
overcoat pulled UP about his neck. The
mans appearance indicated that he was
a laboring man. He asked for cheap
room. The clerk scrutinized the man. but
when Sharpe registered his name carefully
nothing more was thought Of the guest. and
he was shown to his room. About o'clock
yesterday morning loud groaning was
heard in the halls of the second floor, and
it awakened the other roorners on that
floor. 1t was learned that the noise came
from Sharpe's room. The door was forced
open and Sharpe was found lying on his
On a stand was a small box containing
about one ounce of Rough on Rats. This
powder was sprinkled over the floor. DR..
Kennedy, of the City Dispensary. was sum-
moned. He gave Sharpe emetics and the
patient appeared TO recover from his stupor.
DR.. Kennedy worked several hours with
Sharpe and left the hotel at 6 o'clock At
that time Sharpe appeared to be greatly
improved. DR.. Kennedy had not been at
his office long when he was again called
to the hotel. This time Sharpe appeared
to be growing weaker. DR.. Kennedy sent
the patient to the City Hospital, where
he died at 8 o'clock.
In looking through Sharpe's effects
note was found addressed to his mother,
Mrs. Edward Sharpe. at S23 Meek street.
The note read: Goodbye, mother, dear. I
have been driven to this act by my failure
to get work that would pay me enough
money to enable me to live properly.
have been having hard time In getting a
place to board. You will probably get this
note when you receive my body. Good
bye again. From your son Tom"
the box of poison in Sharpe's room. He
was twenty years old and had been work.
ing for the Island Coal Company for some
THE OTHER CASE.
The other man to take his life at the
same hotel yesterday was Robert Killian,
a professor of music. Kilian went to the
hotel about Saturday midnight and regis
tered. He was given a room on the same
floor with Sharpe. When Killian entered
the place one was in the hotel ONCE ex-
cept the clerk, and short conversation
took place between the two men, Killian
oil ynI fAr 1f
When he was taken to his room he seemed
to be greatly worried. but there was no in
dication of the man being under the in
fiuence of liquor. The clerk left Killan
In his room at 1880 a. m. When he regis
be called For this reason the attaches
did not bother about arousing him yesler-
day morning. At IL o'clock yesterday morn
ing, however, 1t was decided by the day
clerk to awaken Kilian. A porter was sent
TO the room. and after several knocks on
the door without a response he burst it
open. killian was found stretched across
his bed in almost the same position Sharpe
was in when found He was dressed in his
shirt and trousers. His shoes and hose
several hours. The body was taken i'm the
city ambulance to the morgue In the
room occupied by Killian was found small
envelope on which was written the word
morphine A few particles of the drug
were yet on one corner of the paper.
After Killian's body had been taken to
made. In one pocket was a card bearing
| the name of "R. Killian, professor of
music In another pocket were number
| of advertising cards from the Wulschner
music store OF this city. Nothing else was
| found that would throw any light on the
| mans relatives or where he made his home
1t was said by the hotel clerk that KiIlian
had a room there several times recently
| He was there on Tuesday and Wednesday
nights, but from that time to midnig ht
! Saturday night he was not seen
Inquiry of Alexander NJ. Stewart secre-
| tary OF the Wulschner music house. failed
| to elicit any information about KilIia n
| Mr.. Stewart said he had heard of the name
| but could not place the man. 1t was
| thought that Kilian was a salesman for
| the house, but Mr.. Stewart said he had
never worked for the firm Killian was
| about forty-five years old