Evening star., 1909-04-21
WOUND IS PROBABLY FATAL
Signal Corps Officer Was About to
Leave Hospital.
SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES
Illness Said to Be Due to Overstudy
in the Military Instruction School
at Fort Leavenworth.

After disrobing and wrapping his form
in blanket, Capt. George C. Burnell, an
officer OF the Signal Corps. United States
Army placed a .3S-caliber revolver
against the side Of his head late yesterday
afternoon and pulled the trigger. The
bullet entered the head just above the
temple and Capt. Burnell fell unconscious
to the floor.
This happened In sanitarium in the
outskirts OF the city. where the army of
ficer had been sent for treatment for
brain fag and nervous depression. He
had not regained consciousness at a late
hour this afternoon. and there is said to
be little or no hope for his recovery.
Capt Burnell has many friends in thi.
city. He was stationed for a long time
at the Signal School Of instruction at
Fort Myer.
His illness is said to have resulted from
overstudy at the Military School OF In
struction at Fort Leavenworth, Kan, and
arduous service in Alaska, where he re-
Gently performed an extended course of
duty in connection with the Signal Corps.
He came to Washington last week to con-
suit Dr.. Joseph Milton Heller. late major
surgeon in the United States Army who
Sad served with Capt. Burnell in the
Philippines, as to his physical and mental
condfNon. DR.. Heller said today he found
him almost a nervous and mental wreck
and advised that he go to the private
sanitarium for treatment, promising tc
visit him frequently.
Preparing to Leave Sanitarium.
Capt. Burnell consented and had beer
| at the institution ever since. When DR.
| Heller called there to see him yester
day afternoon Capt. Burnell said he de
| sired to leave the sanitarium and com,
into the city with the physician. Find
Ing he could not prevail upon the army
omcer to remain there, Dr. HeIle,
agreed and told him to go to his apart.
| ments and pack his effects. At that time
Capt. Burnell was in deplorab BILE condi.
| tion from melancholia
He went upstairs to pack his clothing
| while DR.. Heller remained in the recep-
| ton room downstairs. The officer hac
been gone but a few minutes when the
occupants Of the place were startled by
| revolver shot, which rang out in the
| upper part Of the building Dr. Heller
and others went quickly to Capt Bur.
nelfs room and found him lying uncon.
scious on the floor, blood streaming
from a desperate wound in his head and
| large revolver clasped in his right
hand.
Every attention was given the wounded
man. but it was seen by the practiced eye
of the former army surgeon that the in
jury would doubtless result in death
Capt. Burnell was placed in bed and the
War department authorities were noti
fed of the happening.
1t app peared that after going upstairs to
his room Capt. Burnell took off his trou-
sers, shoes and outer garments and wrap
ped his form in the blanket before firing
the shot.
A Native Of Vermont.
Capt. George c. Burnell was born in
Vermont July 5. 1885, and served with
honor as an officer of the Signal Corps in
the Spanish war. Prior to that war he
served as private, corporal sergeant and
first sergeant in Troop l, 1st United States
Cavalry. and as sergeant in the regular
Signal Corps. He was appointed second
lieutenant of the Signal Corps May 20
1893. soon after the declaration of wal
against Spain. He was later promoted to
a first lieutenancy. and reached cap
taincy February ., 1901
His father and other members of the
family are living in Vermont. the father
being engaged in agricultural pursuits
Before he came to this city last week
Capt. Burnel was stationed at Fort
Wood, New York.