Student Shoots Self

JOHN S. MIDDLEBROOK '41, 22-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Curtis Middlebrook of South Orange, N. J., and brother of Curtis Middlebrook '28 of Hartford, Conn., died at Dick's House on March 20 from a self-inflicted bullet wound. He had astounded his two roommates two nights earlier by walking into his offcampus room at 23 Lebanon Street, saying "Look at this," and firing a 22-caliber bullet into his chest close to the heart. He was rushed to Dick's House where he rallied after several blood transfusions and an emergency operation, but he later sank and died on the morning of the 20th. His parents and brother were at his bedside.

Middlebrook had been in good health and had given no indication of serious despondency. Neither his family nor his friends were able to give a reason for his suicide, other than the unlikely one that he had had a falling out with his girl some time ago. His roommates were Edward G. Acker Jr. of Greenfield, Mass., and John M. McMillin Jr. of Forest Hills, N. Y., both juniors. The gun belonged to McMillin and had apparently been taken earlier in the evening from a dresser drawer.

Middlebrook was originally a member of the present senior class but had dropped out of college from December, 1938, to May, 1939, thereby slipping back one class. He played freshman lacrosse and was a member of the Dartmouth Corinthian Yacht Club. He prepared for Dartmouth at Choate School.