Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-30
PULLIAM DIES BY OWN HAND.
President of National League Shoots
Himself at New York Club.
I'LL HEALTH SUPPOSED CAUSE
Remains Partially Conscious Part OF
Might, but Unable TO Talk About
the Deed-Had Been In
Snnttarium,

NEW YORK. July 29.-Harry c. Pulliam,
president OF the National league Of profes
sional base ball clubs, died at $40 a. m.
today, after shooting himself through the
head in his room at the New York Attn
letic club last night Although a bullet
from his revolver passed entirely through
his head, severing both optic nerves and
causing instant blindness, Mr.. Pulliam
lived from $50 last night until this morn
ing. He became unconscious soon after
the shooting was discovered and was I'M
able to make any statement as to his rea-
son for committing suicide, bat 1t is gen
orally attributed to I'll health.
Throughout the night MI. Pulliam lin
gered in a semi conscious condition. His
relatives in Kentucky and Tennessee we're
notified of the affair last night. President
Pulliam's health, and particularly 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 a month ago and seemed to
be considerably improved by his long rest.
His health soon began to give way again
and 1t is reported that he recently spent
a week in a sanitarium. A report was
current today that Mr.. Pulliam wrote his
resignation as president OF the league be-
fore shooting himself, but this could not
be confirmed.
Mr.. Pulliam was born in Scottsville, Ky,
thirty-nine years ago and was successfully
reporter and city editor of the Louisville
Commercial, secretary of the Louisville
base ball club, secretary and treasurer
Of the Pittsburg club and president Of the
National league, to which office he was
elected in 1909. ~
Lying Near
Broken in health from overwork in his
long fight to maintain a high standard
of base ball, Pulliam in a moment of men
tai alteration, his friends say, shot him
self.
Pulliam was found lying near the te!e-
phone by a club servant.
Il think he struggled on the floor for
two hours" said DR.. T. Hamilton Burch.
and that he was so overcome with the
intense pain that he tried to get to the
telephone to send for me. He probably
got the receiver off the hook and then lost
his strength entirely"
Pulllam's death marks the passing of
one Of the most interesting figures of
base ball. Imbued with the idea that the
complete success of base ball rested on
honesty, he often found himself opposed
by some of his associates. Worry over
his troubles with the leagues leaders
brought on a nervous breakdown last
winter and his temporary retirement. He
resumed his active labor about a month
ago.
Made Charges of Bribery.
Some of the club proprietors p~articu-
larly opposed as excessively arbitrary
the presidents instructions to umpires
Immediately after he assumed office to
deal severely with cases of so-called
'rowdy base ball" A succession of con-
troversies. bore hard on the presidents
nervous temperament and at the last
league meeting IN Chicago in February
he showed signs of a breakdown. Pull
liam wanted to make public the names of
the men who, he said, tried to bride the
umpires in the last ChicagoINey York
game. He had become imbued with the
idea that the league magnates were per-
scouting him and that unless the names of
the alleged bribers were made public the
sport Of base ball was doomed.
IL Ahb NAO beAAAuNA lllS AOAAONNu lax
directors meeting, Pulliam suddenly rose
and began a bitter TRADE against the
league officials. He was Quoted for the
time and his friends obtained for him an
indefinite leave Of absence. Pulliam left
Chicago without hat or coat and next APP
peared in ST, Louis, where he announced
his engagement to a young woman of that
city. Garry Hartmann followed him to
st. Louis and took him south, where he
made what was believed to be a full re-
covery of his health,
John A. Heydler, secretary and treas
urer of the National League of Professional
Base Ball clubs will arrive in New York
and assume charge OF the business affairs
of the league tomorrow.
1t seems probable that Mr.. Heydler will
be chosen president of the National league
to succeed Mr.. Pulliam.