New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-04
Lieutenant Brilliant. Missing
from Washington Since Men,
day. Found Dead.
WIFE TELLS OF A QUARREL
Relatives of Bride of Eight
Months Hurry Here to Take
Body to York, Penn,
for Burial.

eral attempts 10 get into the room during
! the day and had been unsuccessful. Be
coming alarmed. she told ". c. Muschen-
helm. the proprietor. and together they
entered the room through a connecting
door from another room about o'clock
YESTERDAY afternoon. The lieutenant was
seated in a chair with his feet resting on
another chair and was fully dressed ex-
cept for his coat.
There was a bullet wound in his right
temple and his hands were crossed over
his abdomen with a revolver in one Of
them. Coroner Feinberg was informed
at once and arrived at the hotel soon
after the body was found After making
a careful inspection Of the room and its
contents he confirmed the theory Of sui
eide advanced by the hotel people.
He thought the Lieutenant had been
dead about twelve hours The bullet
had entered the right temple just below
the hair line and came out over the left
ear. It was found on the floor beside
him. Death had been instantaneous. on
the dead mans fingers were a large sea-
ring and a smaller ring bearing the seal
Of some fraternal organization.
VaIuabIes Found on Body.
A search Of his pockets revealed A few
one-dolar bills and some change and a
bank and check book or the Washington
Trust Company showing a balance Of
S2o2 up - July l. A gold watch, bear
ing his initials, and diamond stick pin.
also were found on his person. He car
ried a chauffeurs license for the State
OF Maryland and his officers card stat
ing him 10 be a member Of the United
States navy and a graduate Of Annapo-
lis.
The revolver found in his grasp was
covered with blood. II contained four
loaded shells and one that had been dis
charged on the table lay a new box OF
shells containing forty-ive cartridges.
proving that both the revolver and
ammunition had been recently pur-
chased. The Coroner found a letter ad-
dressed 10 Mrs. Charles +. Brilliant.
The Cairo, 10Th and I'd streets, North
west, Washington. =. &C. The letter
was sealed and stamped.
Lieutenant Brilliant was about thirty
years old. and was tall and strongly
built. He went 10 the hotel on Tuesday
morning. registered under his own name
and carried no baggage. He displayed
his officers card. however. and no ques-
tions were asked. Little was seen Of the
officer during his stay a. the hotel. As
he kept TO his room. He did not have
any caller. and neither received tele-
phone calls nor did he 'slephone 10 any
second floor and people were constantly
passing along the corridor, no sound Of
shot was heard by any one, so far as
could be learned
The bed had not been slept in and
apparently the lieutenant had arranged
the room before committing suicide. II
was said that he had registered at the
Army and Navy Club, but no one could
be found there who had seen him. His
body was taken 10 an undertakes rooms
and the Navy Department was informed
at the same time that telegram vas
sent to Mrs. Brilliant stating that her
husband had met with serious injury.
A Sufferer from Meningitis.
Dr. Charles N. oman. Surgeon OF the
United States Navy. and Lieutenant c.
J. Marquet. also OF the navy, were pres
ent at the autopsy performed by Corp
ner's Physician O'Hanlon. who said last
night that he found Lieutenant Brill
hart had been suffering from meningitis,
which. ne said. had probably upset his
mental status and caused hin 10 take
lis own life
Washington. Aug 3.-Lieutenant
Charles Z. Brilliant The young navy Of
ficer who committed suicide in a New
York hotel, disappeared from here Mon
cav. Brother officers spent all Of yes
terday and last night in searching this
city and Baltimore for him, and to-day
called on the police OF all the big cities
10 assist in the hunt. The Navy Depart
ment also sent out general alarm.
He was born in Kansas. but was ap-
pointed 10 the Naval Academy from
Pennsylvania. He entered the service on
October 3. 1899, and was graduated from
the Naval Academy in 1904. He was in
command Of the torpedo boat destroyer
Preble at one time.
rapard.F ono 80 tI... -, 80,
promising young officers in the service. /
He had been in charge Of the power sta
tion at the Washington Navy Yard. fol- b
lowing a term OF sea duty. and was uni T
versally popular lie married daughter
Of W. q. Osgood. an official of the Census
Bureau. eight months ago. Her relatives
have left here for New York and will
take the body 10 York. Penn. for burial
Mrs. Brilliant explained, between hvs- /
terical sobs tonight that her husband
had gone TO New York. supposedly on
business. direct from Atlantic CITY
where they had been spending a vaca-
tion She admitted that she and her /
husband had slight quarrel Sunday. /
hut she declares that IL was not serious
and that IL does not explain his suicide. /
4 friend Of the family ascribed the deed !
=, a temporary mental alteration, de- 1
claring that Lieutenant Brilliant had no /
real troubles.
WHERE TO TAKE LUNCH
And drink the best American Wines
IL r. Dewey So1s Co, l3s Fulton ST., Ny. /
-AGyt