Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-14
Yotal anS 4srsouaL.

Suicide Of Charles w. stewart The Par
ticulars.-On Sunday evening, at eight o'clock,
the coroner was summoned 10 hold an inquest
over the body Of Charles w. Stewart, (ats an as
sstant officer in The United States House Of Re-
pressntalives,) which was found in the room Of
the Speaker, at the Capitol. e $500
A jury was selected, consisting OF the following
named persons: Benjamin B, French, r. r. Nc
Knew, Aquilla X Arnold, Edward Barry, James
G. Nokes, Joseph M. Adams, Johnson Simonds,
r.. M. Hanson, John B. Hendricks, George Reed,
William Al. Franklin, and T. M. Hanson.
The subjoined abstract of the evidence on the
mourniul occasion fully explains the circum-
stances attending the suicide. The inquest was
held in the Speakers room. ssiai sgJs.t
James G. Noxes (of the Capitol police) testified
that he saw Mr.. Stewart at about twenty minutes
TO three o'clock on Sunday afternoon. He was
standing under the arcade, on the east side Of the
Capitol, when Mr.. Stewart came up, and looked
towards him, having cigar in his mouth and a
kew In his hand. The deceased entered room
down stairs. There was nothing unusual in his
appearance--nothing to excite suspicion that all
was not right; for he had been in the habit of
coming to the Capitol on Sunday.
About twenty minutes to six o'clock in the
evening, Mr.. Gardener, druggist, came to see the
witness, telling him he was afraid something was
wrong concerning Mr. Stewart, who, early in the
afternoon had ri occurred at his store ounce and
a half of laudanum and, besides, his family were
alarmed for his safety. Mr.. Nokes Immediately
procured q lantern, and, in company with Mr.. l..
F. Johnson, likewise of the Capitol police, pro-
ceeded to the vicinity ofthe Speakers room. He
noticed that the inside screen was closed, an un.
usual thing, and the door locked. For the pur-
pose Of effecting an entrance, the transom light
was torn out with broom handle, and he then
climbed through tho opening thus effected, when
he discovered Mr. Stewart lying on the sofa, dead.
DR.. Bxsey said that, after he learned that MIR.
Stewart was dead, he at once proceededt TO ascer-
tain the cause Of his death He found in the
pocket of the deceased two bottles OF audanum,
and box of pills, for athe destruction of rats
and mice !" but they had not been touched.
There being no smell of landanum on him, the
doctor pursued the investigation still further,
when he found in the spittoon sixteen, pieces OF
paper, which, when adjusted, read-"Drug Cal.
Store. M. King. STRycHNINE, Poison. 496 Penn
sylvania avenue. near Third street, Washington
city, The physician took from the pocket of the
deceased $136 AZ.
: j. B. Gardener, druggist, testified that, at
about halfpast two O'Clock, on Sunday afternoon,
Mr.. Stewart came to his store, and asked for two
z ounces Of audanum, saying his wife wanted to
make liniment for one ofthe children. He told
the deceased that plaster would do better; hand
ed one to the deceased, who folded il up and put
il into his pocket. Mr.. Stewart said to him that
he was trying to find some place 10 get whisky,
as the taverns were closed. Tho witness then
went into Mr. Wheatley's room, next door, and
procured him liquor He said 10 the deceased
that he would get him some dinner, but Mr..
Stewart replied that he had good dinner at
home. Ef fi0 rs
About dark, one Of Mr.. Stewards children came
to Mr.. Gardener, asking him whether he had seen
anything Of their father; and in reply 10 the IN.
quiry, he informed the boy that nis father had
bought from him two ounces of laudanum. The
child immediately burst out crying and said 81
am afraid father is going 10 kill himself Mr..
Gardener informed the boy that when his father
called at the store he seemed 10 be cheerful; hut,
in this, he might have been mistaken. The wit.
mess then went over 10 the Capitol and expressed
10 Mr.. Nokes the apprehension that there was
something wrong. Finally, the body was found
in the condition il now was, dying on the soia)
There was nothing in the conduct of Mr. Stewart
10 arouse suspicion in any manner III ne mao
asked for two grains of strychnine he should nave
sold il to him. The deceased had been on "llile
jerry on Saturday night, but did not show the
effects oft. He spoke nationally, as usual.
Wm. j. Wheatlcy's testimony was, in part, cor
roborative of that Of Mr.. Gardener, saying Aner
Mr.. Stewart drank the liquor in his house, he left
the premises and that he (Wheatey) afler the
little boys had called to make inquiries concern
ing their father, suggested TO MIR. Gardener that
steps be at once taken TO ascertain the facts
in the case. sst.1 s.f ~ $3.50 80
Z. F. Jolnson said he was called by Mr.. Nokes,
and asked him to look into the Speakers room, as
Mr.. Stewart went there on Sunday afternoon 10
take a nap. Mr.. Griffith said both doors were
closed, which was uncommon. IL was nouced
that all the blinds were closed particular pains
ing been taken with that view. The transom light
was taken out, through which opening Mr.. Nokes
got into the room about twenty minutes 10 ak
o'clock. The witness said he had known Mr..
Stewart for three years. His disposition was
amiabIe and quiet; he had never known him 10 be
<s.r I'm oh
thought the deceased looked gloomy, and that his
conduct was singular.
Mr. Nokes, recalled, said he. had known Mr..
Stewart for twenty years. He was an amiabe, quiet
pleasant man, and had never seen him 10 ms OF
detection. He bad ofien been shooting with him.
mr.. Gardiner, recalled, said he had never seen
ANYTHING out Of the way in Mr.. Stewards conduct
The deceased was devoted 10 his family, and was
not pressed in money matters. He always seemed
10 have plenty Of money, and talked pleasantly
about his family. stse. s...,tt. "a
LW. GriHik, zone Of the Capitol police) tesii-
fed that il was his day 10 be on duty. On Sun
day afternoon, al about five o'clock, Mr.. Nokes
was sitting in the guardroom, when Johnson came
along. The two went in company TO the Speakers
y room. His testimony was corroboratiye OF that
given by Messrs. Nokes and Johnson. During
the year and half he had been attached 10 the
Capitol police, he had never before seen the stat
door closed. He had occasion 10 look into the
room, when there was a light in IL. Since the
last session Of Congress, he had never seen those
window blinds in the condition they were on Sun
day nieht-(entlrely closely ai.tr
Captain burlington testified that Mr.. Gardener
informed him that il was suspected Mr.. Stewart
had taken laudsnum. Mr.. Nokes got into the
room through the transom Of the door. He had
told him to take stick Of wood, and knock AT the
frame, but afterwards founda key which unlocked
the door. ~ .aleala r.isl, "a. -. -. s
The testimony was here concluded. sga
Zone of the bottles Of lsudanum was bought OF
Schwauz and Son, and the other OF Gardener and
company. There was nothing on the box OF
rsfsbane 10 determine where il was purchased.
The strychnne came from the drugstore OF Mr..
King. Al liquor case in the room, champagne
bottle, hut halffull, was dicovored, and near by
n broken lumber, with some of that liquor in Il.
The suppostion was, that Mr. Stewart had de
signcdy broken the vessel, after drinking from u
tte poisoned contents. His cigar and penknife
were near by the case. Attached 10 his umbrella
was an envelope, with his name written thereon
and in q memorandum book, found in the room,
were the words: Goodbye 20 all friends. c. w
Stewart And 10 home remember me. g. w
Stewart, 1864. Three horses at Jones's; mine; the
las, time, c. w. Stewart" The writing was in q
firm, bold hsnd.l 5000
y r. F.