The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-06-05


known pharmacist, shot himself
through the right temple at his resi-
dence in the McCully tract yesterday
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 with
the illness of his wife, are reported to
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 Handy 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
his store room. His wife
and two children arrived on the Siberia
on Monday, and Mrs. Newman's illness
seemed to have a respondent effect up
on him.
Wednesday he was particularly dis |
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 1t. |
He made an offer to the Benson, Smith |
Co. and was told that it 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 1920 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 a more |
cheerful view of the situation after |
nights rest. To one friend also, he told |
of his difficulty with the new phac-
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 a different impression |
Then also he had secured the services
of a 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 |
partially. telling him that he had either
one of two ways out of his difficulty,
ne 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 a reason
why he should not give UP. He also
was figuring on forming a stock COM
many 10 take over the enterprise and
The papers had already been drawn up
for filing. At any rate, Newman left
his place wednesday evening in a bet
ter frame of mind than usual, though
he was not aware that, in the mean
time. the druggists OF the city had held
a meeting at which it was agreed to
axe the stock off his hands. The drug
FISTS tried to find him and couldn't
THE FATAL ACT.
Newman hardly slept at all Wednes-
lay night, and evidently lay awake
,rooding over his troubles. He arose at
he usual hour in the morning yester-
Law. had breakfast with his Wife ana
.budren. sitting modify through the
neal. and hardly uttering a word. KS
ne from his chair he went TO trunk
hat was standing in the hall way so'
MS revolver and then went TO the pain
Dom. A moment later the report of
pistol was heard and when Mrs. New
nan reached the room she found her
husband upon the floor. with bullet ]