Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-29
Tragic End to Career of John
Sharp Williams at Family
Residence.
SHOT HIMSELF WITH A RIFLE.
Returned From College on Sunday
Last-Hard Study, Lack Of Sleep
And Worry Cause of Deed,

Inability TO sleep, as the result OF
study and respondent and discouraged
on account Of his condition, caused
John Sharp Williams "a years OF age,
to kill himself at the family residence
on Twelfth East street about O'Clock
this morning.
The young man returned home from
college on sunday morning last He
WAS worn out and respondent when he
came. The closing weeks of school had
been particularly hard and they had a
depressing effect upon aim. He was
nervous and sleepless On his return
his condition became worse instead Of
better lie found sleep almost an Inn
possibility, and talked the matter ever
with his father Hon. Farley l.. VIII
liams, but last night was rather more
cheerful than he had been for some
days. He retired at $3.50 going up stairs
with better prospects for rest than at
any time since his homecoming. ,
During the evening a good many
flrecIackers we're touched of in the
street occhsioning no little disturb
ance. The noise continued until about
midnight when the youthful Fourth Of
July celebrants ceased their din ana
disappeared. About 2 o'clock another
report was heard, but little or no at
tention was paid to II, Mr.. Williams
thinking IT was probably a belated tor
pedo that had been fired. At 4:S0 the
young mans father aWoke ana saw
light In the library. Knowing that
John, or sharp" as he was generally
called. had gone down to the library to
read, but thinking he was prolonglng
his stay, Mr.. Williams arose and de-
scended the stairs 10 ascertain what
was the matter. On entering the room
he beheld Il shocking sight, the young
man vas dead. He had taken 1890
rifle that was kept n the house for
hunting purposes, and had put the
muzzle in his mouth and pulled the
trigger, doubtless causing the report
that WAS heard about 2 O'CLOCK.
Justice Clark was notified and the
remains were brought down town TO
the Evans undertaking establishment
where they were officially Viewed, and
where after making inquiry into the
details of the tragedy, 1t was decided
that an inquest was unnecessary. The
fuaeral was set for I o'clock this after
noon and the interment VIII take place
In Mt. Dlivet cemetery whore the
young man will be buried ut the side OF
his mother
Young Williams was for time
student of the Salt Lake High school
but later attended the Stanford uni
vtrslty and then went to college at
Lawrencevile, New Jersey and Terre
Haute. Indiana, from where he returned
on Sunday last He had many friends
I'm Salt Lake and elsewhere who VIII
be profoundly shocked 20 hear OF his
untmely demise.
SHOCK TO FRIENDS.
The news Of the tragedy was a terri
ac shock to his friends among whom
were numbered a great many OF the
well known young men OF salt Lake
All up and down the street tin affalr
was discussed, surmises were heard as
to the cause, sympathy was expressed
in ur ounded measure but everywhere
there was sorrow over the rash deed Of
the popular young man.
"He had heart as big as all out
doors" exclaimed one OF his old
friends, land would stop at nothing TO
do a "a turn for friend. lie was
little Wild at one time, yes, but show
me the man who knew sharp Williams
and WAS not fond of him.