A dramatic suicide

A dramatic suicide occurred at Capron, Illinois, to-day. Early in May last, George W. Burleigh, who was an old resident of Ohio, came to this town, ostensibly to start a barber's shop. Burleigh had a fine education, and was versatile in conversation. Last Sunday he published a card, informing the citizens that, in order to gratify an often-expressed curiosity on the part of his townsmen to witness some such tragedy as the hanging of Sherry and Connolly in Chicago, he would, on the evening of the 23rd inst., deliver a lecture in Thornton Hall, and at its conclusion gratify his hearers by shooting himself through the forehead. The price of admission would be one dollar, and the amount realised should be used in his funeral expenses, and the remainder be in vested in the works of Huxley, Tyndall, and Darwin for the town library. His idea in ending his life was to secure eternal peace by annihilation. At the appointed time the hall was crowded, and after the delivery of an infidel lecture of wonderful power, in a manner and tone which marked him as an adept, he suddenly drew a Derringer, placed it to his forehead, and, despite attempts to prevent the rash deed, fired, and fell into the arms of two friends who were on the wings of the stage for the purpose of hindering the execution of the design. The large-sized bullet literally tore his brain to pieces. He left a request that his body be forwarded to Cincinnati friends.