The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-06-05


known pharmacist, shot himsel
through the right temple at his resi-
dence in the McCully tract yesterda,
morning, and died an hour later Finan
cial troubles, attendant upon the pro
posed opening OF his new drug store
on Fort and Hotel streets, coupled witt
the illness of his wife, are reported tc
have caused the dependency which in.
duced him to commit suicide. One story
is to the effect that the workings OF
the new pharmacy law would have
made it impossible for him to get a
license, but this is denied by local drug
gists. as well as by some of the friends
of the unfortunate man.
Newman had been Respondent for the
past few days and his friends found it
hard to cheer him up. He was an old
resident of Honolulu, but had been
away from the islands for nine years,
returning only five months ago. He
came to start drug store and wanted
the Randy KATE" corner where he
once did business, but he failed to get
this. Finally the Kerr shoe store cor
ner at Hotel and Fort streets was pro-
cured and he started to fit it up. The
: project appeared to be running along
smoothly up to few days ago when,
| it seems, as If Newman found that
| he did not have sufficient money to
start the business. He had invested
all his savings in the stock, amounting
to $500, but still required money for
furnishing his store room. His wife
and two children arrived on the Siberia
, on Monday, and Mrs. Newmans illness
seemed to have a respondent effect up
on him.
Wednesday he was particularly dis
heartened. He told some of his friends
that he was ready to quit the enterprise
entirely and would sell his stock for
$1,000 though he had paid $500 for it.
He made an offer to the Benson, Smith
Co., and was told that 1t would be con-
sidered, three firms finally agreed to
buy the stock for $4,000. Finally one of
the local banks offered to loan Mr..
Newman what money was needed by
him, some $1,000 on the stock, but New
man, against the advice of his friends,
refused the tender, and insisted on SELL
ing out. No one had any idea, however,
that he contemplated suicide, and
thought that he would take u more
cheerful view of the situation after
nights rest. To one friend also, he told
of his difficulty with the new phar-
macy law, but this, the friend said, did
not worry him much, as he believed
that he could pass the examination
without any trouble. His lawyer how
ever. received different impression.
Then also he had secured the services
of pharmacist from the coast, who
could have conducted the store. This
drug clerk became much Disguised with
Newman's fit of "blues" and finally
left him on Wednesday. This may
have effected Newman to some extent
Newman's friends did all they could
to cheer him up and they succeeded
telling him that he had either |
one of two ways out of his difficulty, |
he could sell his stock, or continue the |
store with the money the bank had Of !
fered him. Newman was man who |
was very fond of his family, and their |
needs was also held out as n reason
why he should not give up. He also
was figuring on forming a stock COM
pany to take over the enterprise, and
the papers had already been drawn up
for filing. At any rate. Newman left
his place Wednesday evening in bet
ter frame of mind than usual, though
ne was not aware that, in the mean
lime the druggists of the city had. held
l meeting at which 1t was agreed to
AXE the stock off his hands The drug
,ists tried to find him and couldn't.
THE FATAL ACT.
Newman hardly slept at all Wednes-
lay night, and evidently lay awake
over his troubles. He arose at
he usual hour in the morning yester-
lay, had breakfast with his wife and
sitting moodily through the
neal, and hardly uttering a word. Ris-
ng from his chair he went to trunk
hat was standing in the hall way, got
lis revolver and then went to the bath
Dom. A moment later the report of a
istol was heard and when Mrs. New
nan reached the room she found her
husband upon the floor, with n bullet
ole in his right temple. DR.. Herbert
vas called by a neighbor but could do !
othing to aid the injured man, and r
Newman died in less than an hour
'ithout regaining consciousness.
THE INQUEST.
Deputy Sheriff Chillingworth visited
ne house Immediately after the TRACE !
y and then summoned coroner's jury a
, pass upon the case. .
There were but two witnesses at the
lquest, Henry Culman and DR.. Her
ert.
Culman testified that he lived at the u
vans house, that ne heard scream f
lille there yesterday morning and d
ent to see what 1t was. He saw Mr.. u
ewman lying down in the bath room,
nd a revolver at his side. No one was II
the bath room other than the de- k
,ased. Mrs. Newman was the per- c
tore, and Spurned the suggestion tn