The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-21
'1Nearer My God to Thee"
Ends Last Letter of Sold
Ter of Fortune.
FIRES BULLET INTO HEAD
He LEAVES A LETTER IN WHICH
HE eLAMES AN OFFICIAL OF A
MANUFACTURING CONCERN FOR
HIS DEED.

New York, Feb. eli am simply
up against it. and am going to kill
myself" wrote Samuel J. Butcher OF
Denver, a soldier of fortune. in his
little room just around the corner
from the Metropolitan tower, in which
the chimes were playing Nearer, My
God, to Thee" at $50 o'clock in the
afternoon.
Just as his body was being carried
from the place a messenger arrived
with a note offering him a position
at salary in excess of any he had
every received.
"a man living to be fifty-six, who
finds himself among strangers, a
stranger among strangers, has three
resources-stealing, begging or the
next best thing. I have taken my
choice" wrote Butcher and then the
chimes interrupted the writer.
Iron Tongue Plays His Requiem.
AS the bells ceased striking the
hour and then played the hymn
Butcher resumed:
lie MeLTOpOlltdH ClOCh 40 JuoC loil-
ing out the iron tongue of time to
that tune of Nearer, My God, to
Thee Not the midnight hour. but
my last here on this earth. OF those
! have wronged I beg forgiveness: to
those who have wrOnged me, not a
feeling on earth against them. l have
outlived my usefulness. To younger
men: Don't spend your money. Save
it until you are old enough to enjoy
life. To my friends q have many,
remember me as you knew me during
life"
Leaving this letter, with two 9TH
er left his room. Shortly afterward
William A. Miles, who has room on
the same floor, heard muffled pistol
report and found Butcher in a bath
room. blood flowing from a bullet
wound in the right temple. He died
without regaining consciousness.
elames fastener as Cause Of Act.
Butcher had registered at the Hotel
Raymond. AZ East TwentyE Eighth
street, from Denver last August and
sought to float an invention he hoped
would make him rich. He was wor-
ried by bills and delay in the deliv-
cry of patterns made by the American
Silver Company and Bristol Brass
Company of Bristol, Conn.
Butcher left letter addressed to
"The Press" whose jumbled senten-
ces indicate his mental agitation. In
this letter he wrote:
AN official of the American Silver
company is as much to blame as if he
pulled the trigger. On August 2, 1900,
I submitted a device to him to be
made. He gave me a price. I gave
the order and the cash in full pay
lnent. After two months not a sam
pie. His first promise was to deliv-
err the goods in two weeks. On No
vember 23 I explained fully to him my
situation. that I was here a stranger
among strangers; that his delay had
caused my Denver associates to with
draw: that was stranded, and asked
him If he did not feel justified in re-
funding some of the money I had Civ
en- him to bridge me over: that all
the saleS were to be RENTED to him.
No, he had the money and would keep
1t.
"He made me the best promise,
though, and with tears in his eyes
said he would get me shipment i'm
mediately. About two months later he
did ship me ten machines, but they
would not pass inspection.
mo doubt I will be missed as little
rs any other one person. Outside of
nv sister and NV how there is not a
soul on earth to drop a tear or to give
sigh. My last thought is of them.
May they always be happy