Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-30
PULLIAM IS DEAD
FROM PISTOL SHOT
President of National League
Found in His Apartments With
a Bullet in His Brain-Both
Eyes Shot Out.

NEW YORK, July 29.-Harry c. Pull
liam, president of the National League OF
Professional Baseball clubs, died at $40
a. m. today, after shooting himself
through the head in his room in the New
York Athletic club last night. Although a
bullet from his revolver passed entirely
through his head, severing both optic
nerves and causing instant blindness. Mr..
rulliam lived from $3.50 last night until
this morning He became unconscious
soon after the shooting was discovered,
and was unable to make any statement
as to his reason for committing suicide.
but the deed is generally attributed to
Ill health.
Mr.. Pulliam was in his office yester-
day attending to the business of the
league, and went to his room at the ath-
letic club last evening At $50 o'clock a
signal from the telephone in his room
was thrown on the switchboard in the
clubs rooms. The operator responded, but
receiving no CALL sent messenger to as
certain the trouble. Mr. Pulliam was
found lying on the floor. dressed only in
his under clothing, and with bullet
wound through his head. The telephone
receiver had apparently been knocked on
it's hook when he fell. A revolver lay
on the foor near his hand. The club S
physician was summoned, but there was
RNNN@~@@Nt
and it was evident that death would en-
sue within q short time. A coroner who
was called attempted to obtain state
ment from the dying man, but without
avail To all questions regarding the shot
Mr.. Pulliam. who was in a semi-conscious
condition, replied that he did not under
stand and asked: What shot?' He
soon became unconscious, but revived
little and complained that his head ached
ha m III
note or other explanation of the suicide
was found In the room.
Through the night Mr.. Pulliam fingered
in a semi-conscious condition.
HEALTH HAD BEEN BAD.
President Pulliam's health, and partic-
ularly his nervous condition, had been
so poor for several months as to cause
much alarm among his friends. After the
spring meeting Of the National league In
February he was granted an indefinite
leave of absence, and spent several
months with relatives in Tennessee and
Florida He returned to his duties about
month ago, and seemed to be consid-
erably improved by his long rest. His
health soon began to give way again, and
1t is reported that he recently spent a
week I'm a sanitarium. A report was cur
rent today that Mr.. Pulliam wrote his
resignation as president of the league
could not be confirmed.
Mr.. Pulliam was born In Scottsville,
KY. 80 years ago, and was successfully
reporter and city editor OF the Louisville
Commercial. president of the Louisville
Baseball club, secretary and treasurer OF
the Pittsburg club, and president of the
National league, to which office he was
elected in 1902.
PULLIAM WAS POPULAR.
LOUISVILLE, KY, July 2s.-As base
ball magnate, newspaper man and state
! legislator, Harry Pulliam, president Of
the National league, who committed sui
eide in New York last night, was one OF
the most popular men to whom Louisville
ever presented an early field. His frst
newspaper work in Louisville, after he re-
turned to Kentucky, his native state
from California, was with the defunct
Louisville Commercial, where he became
city editor. This position he relinquisheo
in 1890 to become secretary of the Louis
VILE baseball club, beginning an &C
quaintance with Barney Dreyfuss, for
merly of Louisville and now president OF
! the Pittsburg National league baseball
club, which resulted in his final advance
ment to the headship of the older of the
major leagues
In 1897, while secretary of the club. Mr.
/ Eulllam was 6l6Cleu TO Ine Sldlb ltSlSld'
| ture. He has numerous relatives here, In
Nashville. Tenn, and his native county
OF Allen Ky.
A SISTER IN NASHVILLE.
! NASHVILLE, Tenn. july 29.-Harry
Pulliam, president of the National league
| of baseball clubs, who shot and killed
himself in New York last night, was well
known in Nashville, having made a num-
Der of trips here to visit his sister, Mrs
George w. Cain, and other relatives. In
1 the early spring Mr.. Pulliam, who was
on an extended leave of absence from his
official duties as head of the National
! league, spent two weeks here en- route tC
| Florida, where he went to recuperatt
from a general breakdown. When seer
| this morning Mr.. Cain said:
MY brother-in-law wrote his sister
| about a week ago, and in the letter there
was no note of discomfort or dependency
! 1t is something l cannot explain, and
| hope to learn of his actions in different
| light"
Mr.. Cain left for New York this morn.
/ ing. but it is not known whether Mr.. Pull
| liam's remains will be brought here.