The Philadelphia Press; Monday, October 29, 1894, Page 3:

"THREE MEN TRY TO TAKE THEIR LIVES

H. Johnson and A. B. Billmeyer Succeed, John Wilfong Fails.

THEY ALL DRANK LAUDANUM

Billmeyer and Wilfong Were Worried by Domestic Troubles and Johnson Had Lost Work Through His Poor Eyesight.

"A. B. Billmeyer's Death

Despairing of getting a message from his wife in reply to the note he had sent, and with lack of employment and possible privation staring him in the face, A. B. Billmeyer, 50 years old, of no fixed residence, committed suicide yesterday morning by swallowing laudanum and another kind of poison in the Hotel Plunket, Eighth and Spring Garden Streets. His wife and daughter board at 1616 North Eighth Street. He lived for twenty hours after taking the poison. About two months ago, Billmeyer, who is a bookkeeper by profession, began to stay over night at the Hotel Plunket, now and then, and when his big, jovial face appeared in the hotel corridor last Saturday evening, about 10 o'clock, he was pleasantly greeted and a room was assigned to him by Night Clerk Irvine. For a few minutes Billmeyer walked to and fro, looking like a man who is ill at ease, and then he made a bee-line for his room. Shortly after midnight one of the hotel porters was passing the corridor in which Billmeyer's room was located and heard moans through the transom. Procuring a chair, he climbed through the transom and found Billmeyer lying unconscious on the bed with only a sheet wrapped around him. On a table near lay three sealed envelopes bearing these addresses: Mrs. Ella F. Billmeyer, 1616 North Eighth Street, Mrs. Percival E. Bell, 1508 Marshall Street, and Coroner Ashbridge. The ambulance from Hahnemann Hospital took Billmeyer to that institution, and for over twenty hours two surgeons worked with him. Ultimately a slight change for the better was noticed, but the patient did not regain consciousness.

A PATHETIC FAREWELL

A "Press" reporter was the first to notify Mrs. Billmeyer that her husband was at the Hahnemann Hospital, and she said that she would call and see him. A member of the family made this statement: "Mrs. Billmeyer and her daughter Emma have boarded at North Eighth Street, which by the way, is only two doors from Coroner Ashbridge's house, for about two weeks. Mrs. Billmeyer separated from her husband because of his drinking habits. He has been unemployed for some time." When Billmeyer's clothes were searched at the Eighth District police station several pawn tickets were found showing that he had recently disposed of jewelry and clothing. It is curious that he wrote what he intended would be his farewell message in a Chestnut Street hotel and that he walked to Eighth and Spring Garden Streets to swallow the laudanum, in another hotel. Billmeyer's letter to his wife read as follows: -

Dear Nell: - I wanted to see you, but you would not have it that way. I did want to say good-bye, for you are the only one I hold dear in my heart. Instead of ending my existence last night, I thought I would wait until to-night, in the hopes of seeing you. Think kindly of me sometimes - that's all I would ask. Do not think that I am insane, for I am not. I am in my sound senses, but I am tired of life. What is it? Nothing. By the time you receive this I hope to be in the land of the righteous. Kiss Em for me - this is her 22d birthday. Ask Bob Laughlin to have my body cremated. He can do it at no cost. Then have my ashes thrown to the wind."

Just as Billmeyer died, his daughter walked up to the hospital, desiring to see her father. "You are too late, miss," said the surgeon in charge, with a look of pity at her white face. "Your father is dead."