Clifford Healy, the twenty-one-year-old son of Captain H. T. Healy, a prominent farmer of three miles east of Milledgeville, attempted to take his own life at his boarding place, the home of C. C. Calkins of North Locust street, in this city Friday [01/05/1900] evening. The shooting occurred 12 minutes before 10 o’clock. Two shots were fired, the first going over the young man’s shoulder, the second entering just above the heart, striking a rib and glancing off. The revolver was aimed at the heart, but just as the shot was fired, it raised, causing the failure to strike a vital point. The young man is resting well today, and it is thought that he will recover.

Healy had been on the streets until about 9:40 o’clock, and returning to his home had gone into the front upstairs room, fully dressed. It was in this room that the deed was committed. The two shots were fired in rapid succession. Will Ranger who was also boarding at the house, upon hearing the explosions, ran at once to the room. He found the boy lying stunned, but not unconscious. He at once called for help.

Dr. Gordon was summoned from his residence across the street and Dr. Crandall was called from his office. The two physicians probed for the bullet, but thus far have been unable to find it. Healy has not been unconscious since the commission of the deed, and it is thought that he will get well.

For some time the boy has been in poor health and despondent. He has been greatly fascinated with the work of short hand at the Business college and worked frequently until late at night with his studies. The shock he received a short time ago in getting into the water at the time of his heroic work in rescuing Ben Hershey and Miss Alice Gordon from the river had seriously affected him. It is said that he never recovered from the shock caused by the tragic death of his brother [Albert S. Healey] in Cedar Rapids, Ia., about two years ago [03/06/1898]. All of these circumstances are thought to be the cause of the attempt at suicide.

Mr. Healy is a young man who stands high with everyone who knows him. He is a hard working, conscientious student, a bright and clever fellow. His friends are numbered by the score. Mr. and Mrs. Healy of near Milledgeville, the parents of the boy, were called at once to Sterling. Ira Coone has been engaged as nurse. It is hoped by all that the unfortunate young man will recover, and that speedily.

A report this afternoon from the injured boy is to the effect that he is getting along all right, with every prospect for recovery. The physicians will not probe for the bullet for sometime—not until the young man is able to stand it. He is suffering great pain.

Contributed by Larry Reynolds - Sterlng Daily Standard 6 January 1900

ed by His Own Hand. Clifford Healy, aged twenty-one years attempted to kill himself by shooting a 32 calibre revolver bullet through his heart last evening at his boarding place, the home of C. C. Calkins on Locust street. The attempt was not successful.

The young man has been a shorthand student at the business college here since last fall, his home being three miles east of Milledgeville, where his father Capt. H. T. Healy, is one of the most prominent citizens of the community. Clifford was down town last evening and went to his boarding place at 9:40 o’clock. Going to the front room upstairs, a spare room, he sat down upon he bed and fired two shots.

Several of the roomers at the Calkins home rushed to the room, Will Ranger being the first to get there. He found the boy lying on the bed, partially stunned but conscious, and the revolver gripped in his left hand. Dr. Gordon, who lives across the street from the Calkins home, was summoned at once, and Dr. Crandall was sent for. They found one wound and probed for the bullet but were unable to find it.

The wounded boy said that he intended to kill himself but the revolver was discharged prematurely, the first shot flying over his left shoulder. This was probably due to his excitement at the time, and in his haste he did not fire the second shot truly. The bullet entered his breast, struck a rib and was deflected upward, inflicting a dangerous but not necessarily fatal wound. The chances are against his recovery. He was resting well at noon.

As to the causes of his rash action, there seems to be nothing but an unaccountable melancholia. Clifford was a hard student and stood high in his classes at the business college. It is thought by some that his hard work over his studies increased his mental worries. Two years ago his brother Alfred died a tragic death at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and since then he has brooded considerable over his brother’s death, as they were very much attached to each other. The young man’s health has not been good for some time.

While in the company of his comrades, he was cheerful and very pleasant in his ways. He was popular at the college and among his associates everywhere. He is the young man who risked his life in order to rescue Miss Alice Gordon from the river after Ben Hershey had kept her above the water for ten minutes several weeks ago, and since then he has been more popular than ever at the college.

H. G. Healy, brother of Clifford, is editor of The Phonetic World of New York and one of the best known shorthand authorities in the United States.

Contributed by Larry Reynolds from the Sterling Daily Gazette 6 January 1900

Clifford Healey is recovering nicely and his parents expect to take him home to Milledgeville as soon as the weather permits. He is able to be up and around and walked down to the post office the other day.

The Sterling Evening Gazette, February 1, 1900