The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1902-07-29
SUICIDE OF A MUSICIAN.
Young Man Kills Himself In Golconda ffo,
Springs Hotel.

~ - htChE Eo 0NJ DNNS 49, -
p. Humes was solved late yesterday af-
ternoon by the finding of his body in a
room Of the Hot Springs hotel at Golcon-
da. The CHASTITY discovery was made by
the clerk of the hotel, the room having
been entered after the occupants failure
to put in an appearance aroused the sus-
picion that something was wrong.
A glance showed that the case was one
of suicide. On a table near the bed was
a small pasteboard box, empty, but
marked as having contained s%trychnine
tablets. On the table also were three let
tiers, addressed "To Whom 1t May Con-
Germ in which were given the dead
mans reasons for killing himself-in
brief that he was a fugitive from justice
and tired of living what had been an ILL
spent life. His real name was given in
one of the letters as A. p. Mcmillan.
The news of the suicide of Humes at
Golconda was brought here by Constable
Colwell and was received with much sur
prise. At that place he was a total
stranger, but in Winnemucca he was very
well known Humes came here from Su-
sanville, a town in northern California,
a week ago. under an engagement to play
the violin in the Up-to-Date saloon and
as leader of a band which was to be
formed. He was we'll recommended by
prominent people Of S~usanville, where he
had followed his occupation of musician
for several months. He began playing in
the saloon the next night after arriving
here and arrangements were made for
him to assume the leadership of the band
after it was organized.
The initial practice of the band was set
for last Sunday afternoon, but at the
time appointed Humes failed to put in al
appearance. Inquiry was made by the
band members and they reached the con-
clusion that he had skipped out for rea-
sons known only to himself. Much sur
prise was occasioned as Humes was a
quiet, gentlemanly young man, and had
before him here the prospects of doing
quite well In a financial way. 1t was as
certained that Saturday night he com
planned OF being i'll and was given per-
mission to stop playing in the saloon
quite early. Afterward ne was seen on
the street by different parties, and told
one of them he was sick and was going
to GoIconda. During the day 1t was ascer-
tanned that Humes had pawned his BIZ
cycle Saturday night and had also left his
violin, a very valuabIe instrument. in the
keeping of the person from whom he OBJ
tanned the money, saying he was going to
leave town and would send for the violin.
Humes' disappearance caused a great
deal of speculation. as there was no APP
parent reason for 1t, but there was moth
ing in his actions while here to indicate
that he contemplated suicide. The most
plausible theory was hat he was a fugi-
tive from justice and had skipped out,
fearing that he had been located.
In the letters which Humes, or McMil-
Ian. left he stated that his record had
been a bad one from %boyhood; that he
had been sent to a reform school i'm Iowa.
and had escaped: that he had served a
term In San Quentin and was wanted in
Oregon, where he has a wife living at
Klamath Falls. He stated that he could
not reform. was tired of such a life and
determined TO end 1t.
It was ascertained that Humes pur-
chased here the s%trychnine tablets with
which he killed himself. He bought them
at the Eagle Drug Store Saturday after
noon. asking for one-thirtieth grain tab
let's. and gave as an excuse that he want
ed them for medical purposes. He was
also a morphine fiend, as he also bought
a quantity of that drug at the same time
and admitted being a slave to the hypo
habit.
This morning a brief letter was found
in a bureau drawer In the room which
Humes occupied in the Schmidt lodging
house here and which indicates that he
had contemplated suicide for several days
at least. The letter was written on the
day after hearrived here and is as fol-
lows
"winnemucca, New, July "a. 1902.
ITO Whom IT May Concern: My real
name is A. p. Mcmillan. I have a wife
living at Klamath Falls. Oregon. My
parents live at Lebanon, Indiana; faith
er's name is A. M. Mcmillan
Today Justice Langwith held an inquest
on the remains at Golconda. A verdict of
suicide was rendered and the body of the
Unfortunate young man was buried at
the expense of the county.
Deceased was about "a years of age. He
was an excellent player or cornet or vio-
lin and other musical Instruments. He
had very little to say of his past life
except that he came to the coast as a
member Of the Iowa state band, which
came out 10 play at the Midwinter fair
In San Francisco In 1894. When the band
went to pieces he remained on the coast
and had since followed the occupation of
musician In various towns in California
and Oregon.
His parents nave been notified of their