Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-08
BULLET IN HIS TEMPLE
James Whitfield Ends His Life at His
Home in Kansas City.
FINANCIAL TROUBLE is THE CAUSE
President Of western Base Ba
League Discouraged by Failure
of investments I'm DiRer-
emit Enterprises.

hANSAo CII1s MO, april i'-Jdmes
Whitfield. president Of the Western Base
Ball league, and for many years sporting
editor OF the Kansas City Star, committed
suicide at his HON here early today.
Mr.. Whitfield was we'll known in sport
Ing circles throughout the west. For the
last ten years he has been in charge Of the
sporting department Of the Star, and in
that capacity has always kept in touch
with the politics of the national game.
He was actively engaged in base ball as
early as the sos. He was one OF the or
g~anizers Of the original Western league,
and was its first president. In April, 1886,
his presence at the National league meet
ing in New York and Chicago, and his
pleas for Kansas City on those two oc-
casions, won for Kansas City its first and
only franchise in the big league. Whitfield
was made secretary Of the club. The tor
nado In May OF that year spoiled the
teams chances Of making money by de-
stroying the grand stand and flooding the
diamond. In 1888, Mr.. Whitfield again
acted as Kansas Citys' representative. this
time at the American associations meet
ings in Cincinnati and New York. and he
was again successful in securing what
he went after, a franchise for Kansas City.
That was his last active appearance in
the base ball field until he was elected
president Of the present Western league at
st. Joseph last winter.
Worried by His Work.
The work OF organizing the new league
proved very great, and since he decided to
head the league that is fighting the Ameri-
can association, Mr.. Whitfield had toiled
night and day. Recently the tax upon him
began to tell and for the last two weeks
he has been under a physicians care. On
May % he returned from his last trip in
behalf Of that league, from Peoria, and
was compelled to take to his bed. Last
week at the Great American handicap shoot
Mr.. Whitfield by sheer force of will at
tended the days contest. He was on the
verge of nervous prostration and on sun
day he was out of his head part OF the
time Nothing serious was thought of his
case, however.
Early this morning he arose and dressed
himself. then, without making any re-
mark, stepped to the next room and fred
a bullet into his right temple. He was
dead when a member of his family reached
him.
Mr.. Whitheld's plight is laid to over
work and worry over financial affairs. He
had lost heavily on several enterprises in
which he was interested. MIR. Whitfield
was born in England forty-seven years ago.
He came to Kansas City in 1884, and with
the exception Of one year. when he was
proprietor of the Referee, a small weekly,
he has been with the Star since hat time.
1t is not known here what effect. IL any.
Mr.. Whitfeld's death will have upon the
Western league. Mr.. j. II. Manning and
Mr.. Nichols, owners Of the Kansas City
club. are out Of the city, Mr.. Manning
being in the, east and Mr.. Nicols in st.
Louis. .-.os,.
| crf Burns Acting President.
ST. JOSEPH Mo-, Aprils 7.-(special
Telegram wv. TT. Van Brunt of the St.
Joseph team in ahe Western league, said
today that there was no trouble between
the league members and James Whitfield.
the president. The relations were very
pleasant" he said. 1--WE know Mr.. Whit
field was very busy at the time the schedule
meeting was held and did not expect him
to be present. All the members of the
league understood his position, and we
knew he could not give the league as much
time as he would have given under other
circumstances We we're satisfied with his
work, however, and there was no possibility
OF him having any trouble with the league"
Mr.. Van Brunt said Thomas Burns. vice
president and owner OF the Colorado
Springs franchise will succeed to the presi-
dency for the present and the probable
successor Of President whitefeld may be
President Sexton OF the Three / league.
DENVER, April I'D. c. Packard, owner
OF the Denver base ball club in the West
ern league, when informed today of the
suicide OF James Whitfield, president of the
league, said that his death would in no wise
affect the future of the league, whose at
fairs are in good shape. Mr.. Thomas Burns
Of Colorado Springs, who was elected vice
president at the league meeting in this city
last month, will become acting president
and It will be unnecessary, Mr.. Pack
ard said, to call a special meeting at once
to elect a successor to President Whitfield.
anage ROurke's Comment.
LINCOLN, April 7.-(Special.)-w. A..
| Rourke, manager of the Omaha team, ar
rived in the city this morning with his
base ball amily. On learning Of Whitheld's
death he seemed depressed and expressed
the deepest regret.
"Whitheld was a No. 1 fellow" said
Rourke, land it's too bad. l can't see any
reason for It. There was certainly nothing
about the leagues finances that needed to
worry him, for they are being ably at
tended to by w. II. Van Brunt OF st.
Joe. He was making a good salary from
the association, besides having a good po-
sition with the Star. He was given the
place partially because Of the grasp he had
Of the Kansas City situation. His death
leaves an important position to I'LL.
81 have no idea who will be selected to
succeed him. There are at least three good
men have in mind, any one Of whom
would be acceptable to me. w. II. Van
Brunt, treasurer, would make an excellent
president. but l doubt II we could get him
to take the position, although / believe he
would be almost the unanimous choice.
Then there is NJ. H. Saxon Of Rock Island,
ILL.,, manager Of the Three-l league. His
name was suggested at the time Whitfield
was elected. have no idea when a meet
ing will be called. | can see no reason
for haste. as the affairs Of the league are
In good condition. and can run along for
considerable time with Mr.. Van Brunt