Morning Constitutional 

In 1915 the Kirby Hotel was a popular and well-appointed establishment. As such, it has acquired its share of notoriety big and small. In the fall of that year a local newspaper printed a simple statement “The housekeeping attendant while cleaning the corner room on the 7th floor found the body of Mr. Busch. He was sitting on the toilet with a gunshot wound to the head. No note or motive was found.”

Granted these 37 words don’t shout big scandal, but there is a mystery here. Why did Mr. Busch pay for a 7th floor room in a fancy hotel in the heart of the city? Why did he shoot himself in the head while sitting on the toilet? Surely using the bathtub would have been a more dignified place to end one’s days? We’ll never know, because Mr. Busch did not leave any parting words and the newspaper never followed up on the story.

1509 Main St. Dallas, Tx.