The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-29

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
at the New York Athletic club, last
night. Although a bullet from his re-
Yolver passed entirely through his
head. severing both optic nerves and
causing instant blindness. Mr.. Punlam
lived from $50 last night until this
morning He became unconscious
soon after the shooting was discover.
ed and was unable 10 make any state
ment as 10 his reason for committing
suicide. but II is generally attributed
10 ill-hcalth
Mr., Pullinm was In his Office yes
tcrday attending TO the business of
the league and went to his room at
the Athletic Club last evening. At
$3.50 o'clock signal from the tele-
phone in his room was thrown upon
the switchboard In the club rooms
The operator responded but. receiv-
ing no call sent A messenger TO as
certain the trouble. MI Pulllam was
found lying on the floor dressed only
in his underclothing and with a bullet
wound through his head. The tele-
phone receiver apparently had been
knocked of It's hook when he fell A
revolver lay on the floor near his
head The clubs physician was sum-
moned, but there was little he could
do TO relieve his patient and it was
evident that death would ensue within
short time.
A coroner attempted TO obtain n
statement from the dying man. but
without avail To all questions as TO
how he was shot, Mr Pulliam, who was
then in a semi-conscious condition,
replied that he did not understand and
asked, "What-shot?'
He soon became unconscious. but
revived a little. but complained that
his head ached and asked the attend
ants to rub 1t. No note or other eX-
planatIon of the suicide was found in
his room
Throughout the night. Mr., PullIam
fingered in A semi-conscious condition,
Members of his family IN Tennessee
and Kentucky were notified OF the
affair last night President Pulliam's
health. and particularly his nervous
condition, had been so poor for sew
eral months as 70 cause alarm among
his friends, After the spring meet
ing of the National League in Febru-
ary he was granted an indefinite
leave of absence and spent several
months with relatives in Tennessee
and Florida. He returned 10 his dut-
les 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 Sanitar-
ium.
A report was current today that Mr.
Pulliam wrote his resignation as pres
idcnt Of the league before shooting
himself but this could not be con-
flrmed
Mr. Pulliam was born In Scottsyille,
Ky. 80 years ago and was successive
" 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, 10
which office he was elected In 1902.
Pulliam's death marks the passing
of one OF the most interesting ilGure'
of baseball. Imbued with the Idea
that the complete success of base
ball rested on honesty. he often found
himself opposed by some of bis asso-
ciates. Worry over his troubles with
the leagues leaders brought on nor
vous breakdown last winter and his
temporary retirement He resumed
his active labors about month ago.