New-York tribune., 1909-07-30
pULLIAM'S SHOT FATAL
CONSCIOUS SOME HOURS.
NerUe Strain Led to Suicide of Ma
tiOad League President.

rrive in this ctv today to take charge Of the body
of his brother-iu-law. Harry Clay Pullam. pres-
dent OF the National League Of Baseball Clubs
-Hr. Pulliam died at the New York Athletic Club at
T:sO a m yesterday from the effects Of self
snficted revolver shot in the right temple
The body was removed 10 the rooms of an under
saker yesterday by order Of Dr. Walter c Gilday.
of No "A West S7th street DR.. Cilday was Mr..
PuiliaTn's physician and personal friend. He said
yesterday:
Mr. Puliam had been suffering for three or
-FOUR years from neurasthenia. l believe his death
was brought on by his disease and the worry and
strain connected with his work Mr. Pulliam should
>lever have taken the position that he held-he
FAR sensitive criticism and was troubled by
aittle things
When asked if he thought Mr. Puiam was in
sane when he shot himself. DR.. Gilday replied:
That dc not care TO say. for should not be
srEe my friend
DR. T. H Burch. 10 l3o West 57th street. who
was the frst-1o Mr.. Pulliam after the shoot
sng on Wednesday evening. said yesterday that the
case the most remarkable instance Of sustained
CONSCIOUSNESS that had ever come TO his notice.
VITALITY REMARKABLE.
'F9uiam," he said. must have attempted his
life about O'clock in the evening, after
8 when ! went to his room. I found he had shot
himself through the right temple severing the optic
nerve and blowing out the right eyeba as cleanly
as if removed with a surgical instrument. He was
IN a heap the floor by the telephone.
y spoke TO Pulliam and he answered. told him
taat was doctor and that<ssEer ything would be
ali right From that time on he called doc
fOr, showing that he understood and remembered
what said Before my coming he had made his
way about the apartment. although completely
blind and agouzed with pain. in effort TO reach
the telephone TO call for assistance Finally he
reached il but apparently his strength gave way
and he dropped the receiver, in his wandering he
sIl over the table and knocked the receiver off the
-aook
-'Foulliam went 10 his room about O'Clock He
refused 20 answer telephone calls. He undressed,
throwing his clothes over chairs TO the right and
seft De took his watch from his pocket and
threw il into far corner of the room. and scat
tered baseball passes and papers about the room
Then he fired the fatal shot He remained con-
Ecious semi-conscious until a IN, and began
10 die about q. N. He breathed his last about
$40 O'Clock
Dr. J. J. Higgins Of No IS West 55th street house
physician Of the New York Athletic Club,
called by Dr. Burcl DIT. Higgins called Coroner
Ehrady, who officially declared the TO be one
OF suicide. and added his belief that Pulliam was
snsane. The Coroner said he did not believe that
.fHo hours elapsed between the shooting and the
discovery Of the dying
{. At the Office Of the National League in the st.
tJames Building. at No 1913 Broadway, it was said
tllat Jar. PuIliam came TO his desk on Wednesday
morning. but he complained Of not feeling well
end went away at noon
BASEBALL MEN OFFER AID.
Among those who called up the National
League office by telephone yesterday TO express
I}reyfus, president OF the Pittsburg club. and
August Hermann. president OF the Cincinnati
club.
aIr PuIarn was born in Kentucky Of humble
sparentage in December. 1859. He attended the
common schools of his native town and was grad
mated from the University OF Louisville. KY. He
was admitted TO the bar OF Kentucky and served
"a term in the Legislature. largely through the
ssnfluence Of his friend. Barney Dreyfuss- He
l<yas reporter The Louisville Commercial
sznd rose 10 be city editor
He was successfully secretary Of the Louisville
fBasebau Club. secretary OF the Pittsburg club and
5ar the last years had been president Of the
National League. He leaves brothers. W z.
if-Pullam. Receiver Of Customs in santo Domingo
land J. P Pulliam. of Oshkosh. Wis. and two sis
5rers. of whom lives in Louisville. KY. and
p1he other is Mrs. G. ". Cain. Of Nashville, Denn.
( Mr. Heydler acting president during the
sEecent absence OF Mr. Pulliam in an endeavor tc
regain his health. He will probably he IN charge Of
TIE organization for the rest of the season II is
shighly improbable that any successor TO Mr.. Pull
liam will be officially elected during the playing
season. and the question is likely be left until
Tgte next meeting OF the league during the winter
AIr. Heyd1er looks a way like the logical
FOR the Office. hut he VIII be elected without
opposition, an5 it is understood that there would
be strong opposition 70 his election by the New
York and Pittsburg clubs The New York club is
likely 10 nave as rs own candidate newspaper
man who has long been identified with the game
Mr.. Pulliam's death IS the fifth in a series that
fyear. First, Michael Powers. catcher for the
EIhiadelphia Athletics. died after sustaining in
S1eTnal injuries during a game. and his death was
= speedily followed by those of James A. Hart. for
snerIy Of the Boston National League club; George
b Dovey, president and owner Of lie Boston
National League club. and Israel Durham. presi-
dent and chief stockholder Of the Philadelphia
National League club