BEAUCHAMP, William P. - Putnam

The suicide of William P. Beauchamp of Portland Mills, Ind at Kansas City was telegraphed by the Associated Press Saturday morning. The Kansas City Times publishes the following:

The body was taken in charge by Coroner Langsdale. On the washstand in the room was a small memorandum book in which was written in the dead man’s handwriting: Dear sisters – Dear wife – Look after and see he is all.  There was no punctuation and the note occupied six lines. It was in an almost illegible hand. Coroner Langsdale said it would have been possible for the man to have done the writing after he shot himself. In the dead man’s pockets there was found only 78 cents. His vallae was opened and in it was discovered $256 a gold ring, gold watch, bunch of keys, some toilet articles and clean clothing. There were also checks on the union depot baggage room for two trunks shipped from St. Louis. The coroner took possession of every thing belonging to the dead man and late in the afternoon opened the trunks at the baggage room.  They contained many articles, but nothing to throw any light on the suicide. There was considerable clothing, a large supply of shirts, a case of surgical instruments, several rounds of cartridges and letters and papers of a business nature carefully arranged.  Several photographs, including one of the deceased, were found. In one of the trunks was a commission appointing W.P. Beauchamp of Indiana consular agent of the US at Rorschach, Switzerland. The commission was issued March 23, 1885 and was signed by the then secretary of state, Thomas F. Bayard.  Communications showing that Beauchamp had officiated as consul at St. Galle, Switzerland were found. There was also a bond give the US for $5,000 with Minerva Beauchamp and Harmon L. Miller of Portland Mills as sureties. Among the letters was one from JB Garrison to WP Beauchamp dated June 1 last and addressed to him at Portland Mills. The letter was on matters of business and judging from it Beauchamp was interested in a liquor house at Oklahoma City. Telegraphs were sent notifying MF Beauchamp of Portland Mills and JB Garrison of Oklahoma City whose name had been found among the suicide’s papers, Beauchamp was about 40 years old, weighed about 250 pounds and was a fine appearing man of massive build. No inquest will be held. The bullet, which passed completely through the man’s head was not found. - kbz