The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-26


SUICIDE OF LIEUTENANT JOHN r. WALKER, UNITED
STATES g INQUEST UPON THE BODY
STRANGE CONDUCT ON THE PART OF AN Off
CIAL.
most melancholy Of suicide by hanging occurred
at the Mansion House, Chambers street, yesterday fore
noon John T. Walker, lieutenant in the United States
Navy. and attached the steam frigate Wabash, was
found suspended by the neck in his bedroom ct the
mentioned hotel, yesterday about Tx A. N. The de-
ceased stopping the Mansion House prior to his
departure to join the sloop St. Aarys, whittier he
about proceeding in the steam frigate Wabash During
his stay In ths city he observed to be somewhat
melancholy, but his friends had idea Of there being
anything serious upon the mind Of who usually
In possession Of excellent health and spirits
The deceased, II appeared, far could learn,
stopping at the hotel In question with intimate
friend Of his and ct breakfast yesterday morning ap
peared in good spirits. He then retired to his
room, aud was never seen alive Afterwards.
About Tx O'Clock this friend Of deceased
knocked at the bedroom door Of Mr. Walker for pur-
pore of seeing the latter when, 70 his SURPRISE he
ceived no from Within The proprietor Of the
house then called and questioned in relation 70 the
matter, when IL agreed to make second effort to
obtain admittance 70 the Of deceased The effort
Ruthless; sound proceeded from the apartment
which caused no little alarm to those seeking admission
then resolved 70 force open the door, when to the
horror and surprise Of all the dead form OF Mr. Walker
discovered hsr ging from the bedpost On exam
nation Of the body life found TO be entirely EXTINCT
although the body was quite warm. The deceased
partially undressec and hanging with his feet under
the head OF his bed rope the instrument used In
putting the plan Of suicide into execution.
Coroner Hills on beng notified OF the occurrence pro-
ceeded hotel, and neld the body
the mosl private manner and not even the names Of the
witnesses we're maze public by this Official. We endea
vored to furnish readers with report OF the inquest
but Gtrange TO say Coroner Bills would not allow
porter 10 look 1t the evidence taken In the Instead
Of placing the document file in the Coroners Office
10 the custom usually adopsed the Coroner In this
thought proper II In bis possession without Civ
ing any Just satisfactory reasons for doing. In
sequence Of this arbitrary conduct part Of the
Coroner We are unable TO say what the verdict really
In this but presume the jury had difficult
~ in coming to to the or DEATH
&C. &c. The conduct Of Coroner Hills this occasion
war; TO say the least, exceedingly uncourtoous, and
scarcely paralleed in the history Of the Coroners Office
thus conceAng the inquest papers from the public; hi.
oonttitusn will not uphold him In hts utter ignorance Of
what constitute courtesy and good breeding But We
Lieutenant Walker has . wife and family rosid
Ing In Erie, Pennsylvania, who viii be sorciy AZ
nicted when the sad intelligence OF . husband
and fathers unsimely end 10 conveyed TO them The
BODY OF deceased enclosed In cofn yesterday aer
for tho purpose OF carrying TO his late residence
for nterneoL The deceased was thirty tive years Of
age and . native of Michigan. he q remarkably
One LOOKING man. and cndeared himself TO large circle Of
Acqoaihtances In this city and elsewhere.
No plausible has yet been igned for the
ssion II the rash act We could not learn whether de-
len any letters behind him explaining his
for committing self destruction, but presume from
conversation had with friend Of deceased, that
were written and that probably suicide committed
upon the spur OF the momeot leaving time for reeo-
ton or letters OF explanation
We find upon examining the United States Navy Regis
ter that Lcut Walker received his appointment while
citizen Of the State OF Ohio In the year 1891 that he
ceived his commission Lieutenant tho 18th OF Sep
TENDER, 1885, vas NJ service tso months while thus
commissioned. his total torn OF service ct 10 the
navy Was twelve years and one month. In November,
1855, he stationed on board the steamer Dspatcn.