The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-29
YOUNG KANSAN
SHOOTS HIMSELF
Elmer D. Murdoch Sends a
Bullet Through His
Brain.
WHILE AMONG STRANGERS
OVERCOME BY DESP0N0ENCY
Relatives of the Dead Man in
Kansas Are Said to Be
Wealthy.

To the surge OF roaring winds, and
In a binding rain, Elmer D. Murdock
aged so years. of Clifton Kan, sent a
bullet into his brain shortly after mid
night Wednesday, in the rear of a bill
board at Second South and Second
West streets. The man died instantly,
the bullet entering the right temple,
passing through the head and emerg
ing from the left side of the skull.
For almost seven hours the body lay
huddled up behind the board, legs
crossed, leaning against q support.
For that length of time the rain poured
upon the body, drenching the clothes.
and running down the mans open
mouth
Coroner Smith was notified. and
with officer Harris, went to the scene
Alongside the body was found an
empty bottle with a chloroform label
upon It, and between the mans legs
lay the revolver with which he killed
himself. Blood still strickled from the
holes in the head. and decomposition
had already set in.
Decision of Coroner.
The Coroner decided that MuLdock
came to his death by his own hand,
and several murder theories advanced
by the people living In the ncighbor-
hood were dispelled. One chamber Of
the gun contained an empty cartridge.
The other four held loaded shells. The
remains were taken to Evans's under
taking establishment. and relatives OF
the dead man. living IN Clifton. Kan,
were notified.
Early Thursday evening reply was
received from William Murdock. father
of the dead man, ordering the remains
shipped to his home this morning.
Murdocks family is reputed wealthy.
His father is said to be a prosperous
grain dealer OF Clifton. Kan. He also
was related. 1t is reported, to NJ. NJ.
Murdoch, owner of the Wichita, Kan.
Eagle.
Shrouded In Mystery.
No definite reason is known for
young Murdocks rash act. On Mon
day last he registered at the Salt Lake
rooming g-house, 164 South Second
West street, According to the story
of the proprietor, w c. Ventress, Muir
dock appeared melancholy and des-
pondent. and lay all day Wednes-
day undressed on his bed Early
Wednesday evening the man left his
room, and was seen no more by Ven
tress until the body was found not
fifty feet away from the rooming-
house
Sitting on a fence about 10 o'clock
Wednesday night, Murdock attracted
the attention of Henry Whitaker, a
shoemaker living near the scene OF
the tragedy. Murdock appeared
despondent, and held his head in his
hands.
Two Men Heard Shot
Whitaker heard the shot about mid
night. but did not investigate thinking
IT an advance shot of the Fourth of
July. a man named Williams. living
nearby. also heard the shot but paid
no attention to 1t.
Whitaker opened his shop early
Thursday morning. and saw Murdock's
body leaning against the billboard.
Walking up TO the body. he saw that
the man had been shot. and notified
the police,
Murdoclcs trunk, in his room at the
Salt Lake roomlng- house. was opened
by order of the Coroner, and the effects 4
OF the dead man examined. Several
photos, two of young girl. and
one Of man, were found together
with life insurance policy for $4,000
In the Modern Woodmen Of America,
DoEgon camp. Clifton, Kan.
By letter from his mother In which
she states that she sent him IS to buy
pair of shoes, the probable cause
for the suicide is learned Murdock's
features, as they lay cold and still In
the morgue. are fine and regular and
give no evidence that he was addicted
10 strong drink. He was commonly
dressed when found, and was evident
ly hard pressed for money.