The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-29
Harry C. PulIiam, National
League President,
DIED EARLY THIS MORNING
He Shot Himself in the Head Last Night
at His Rooms in the New York
Athletic Club Quar-
ters.

New York, July 2o--Harry O. Pul.
liam, president Of the National base ball
league who shot himself at his rooms on
the third floor Of the New York Athletic
club, died this morning No arrange
ments for the funeral have yet bee.
made.
Standing In the center Of the room,
Mr.. Pulham held a revolver to his right
temple. He fred only one shot. It went
in at the right temple and came out
seven inches away on the left hand side
Of his head. The bullet destroyed the
right eye and passed through the upper
part Of the left.
The sound Of the pistol shot was not
heard in any other part Of the clubhouse
but Mr.. PulIiam in falling 70 the floor
apparently dislodged The receiver Of a
telephone which was standing on table
nearby. The operator on the ground
iloor answering the signal got no reply
and sent bellboy to Mr.. Pulliam's room
to find out what was the matter. The
door was unlocked and the boy failing
to get any response to his knocks, opened
it and walked in.
Lying on the floor half clad lay the
base ball magnate. The beIlboy hurried
down stairs and gave the alarm. Doe
tor Higgins, club physician, was hastily
summoned. and after making hurried
examination directed the coroner to be
notified
Dir. PulIiam, although still conscious
and able to speak, appeared to be too
confused to answer the physicians ques
tions coherently. Coroner Physician
Shrady, who arrived about half an hour
after the shooting, assisted Mr.. Higgins
in attending to the wounded mans needs
Both Of them attempted 70 get some
explanation Of the base ball presidents
attempt to XIII himself, but he continued
too dazed to give ineligible answers
The coroner's physician leaning across
to MI. Pulliam's ear asked slowly.
Why did you shoot yoursef@
There was no reply Ile repeated the
question Mr. Puiliam reused himself
eoniusedly and asked II a dazed manner;
Why, who's shotl"
Again the question was asked and this
time all that the stricken president could
answer was a muttered seWhat shot 2"
The physicians decided that any fur.
ther questioning was likely to endanger
Pulliam's slim chances Of recovery. AS.
sisted by club employees they placed him
ii bed and did everything III their pow
er 70 relieve his pain.
Reason for Shooting.
A careful search was made Of the room
in the hope that something would be
found which might point to a possible
reason for the attempted suicide Among
the many papers scattered about, how
ever, there was nothing 60 indicate that
the act had been at an premeditated.
Friends OF Mr.. Pulliam declared it as
their belief that his act was the result
of a sudden wild emotion and was done
without any forethought and without
reason.
Although Mr.. Pulliam's act at this
time was entirely unexpected, some of
ais friends said that at the time Of his
recent illness 1t was known that he was
subject to severe attacks Of melaneholia
and his attendants had been reported
then as fearful that he would make an
attempt on his life.
Harry G. Pulliam had only recently
resumed the reins Of the National league
after an absence from duty for many
months. Nervous trouble, due to his
nnceasing labor in the interest Of the ma
tional game, was given as the cause Of
Afr. Pulliam's absence from his labors.
Puliam's temporary retirement was
endorsed by the National league direc-
tors, who appointed John Heydler, Mr.
pullia's assistant as acting president
oil the league during Pulliam's absence.
Mr.. PuIiiam spent the time during his
leave in the South and was believed to
have fully recuperated from his illness.
He took hold Of National league affairs
only a few weeks ago.
mr.. Pulliam left his Office on Broad
way shortly after one o'clock yesterday
afternoon, apparently in excellent sPir
its. John Heydler, secretary Of the Ma
tional league, who IS Mr. Puliiam's clos
est personal friend and who has been
his almost constant companion since The
league president returned to his Office
here this spring after his long absence
on account Of illness, left the city sew
eral days ago, and it is believed that
the president had found the routine work
Of his Office bearing down somewhat
heavily upon him in Mr. Heydler's ab-
sence.