OCR Text |
Show WEALTHY CITIZEN KILLS HIMSELF WHEN ACCUSED OF MURDERING LAWYER . SAVANNAH, III., May 25. Bothwell Pulford, reported to be the wealthiest citizen of Savannah, committed suicide today a few momenta after being questioned regarding the whereabouts of a revolver re-volver with which he was suspected of having slain Attorney Dan S. Berry, former leading member of the Illinois Legislature.' Pul-foriUbadVdeniedVny Pul-foriUbadVdeniedVny luiwledgaof "the killing of Berry, but became agitated when questioned concerning the revolver. The story has been widely circulated that Berry was killed as a result of attention paid by him to a married woman. Pulford arose early today and went to his store. He appeared to be working under a great strain. , After opening the doors of the store and of. the safe, he placed the money in the cash register and was leaving by the back door when a newspaper correspondent stopped him. "Mr. Pulford, I would like to ask you one question in regard to your revolvers," he said. "I can't talk to you now," said Pulford. "I am going to the house to get breakfast, but I will be back in just a minute." Mr. Pulford appeared to be in haste and turned quickly and walked toward his home. Fifteen minutes later a report was heard in the street and when an investigation was made Pulford was found dead. He had ended his life with a single bullet. Climbing to the loft of the barn in which he kept his horses, he stood near a window, pressed the muzzle of his revolver against the right side of his forehead, fired and fell back dead. At the sound of the revolver Mrs. Pulford became hysterical. When the neighbors reached the house she was wailing frantically, her two daughters at her side. For two months Pulford has shown signs of mental strain. When Berry was killed in Pulford's opera-house last Monday and the authorities began to question Pulford, it was evident to those who knew him best that Pulford's mind was giving away. Pulford rose from a poor boy to the position of one of the wealthiest men in this section of Illinois. Besides owning much of the most valuable real estate of Savannah he was the president of the Commercial bank and the city electric lighting system. |