Evening star., 1866-06-14
LOCAL NEWS.

StlCIpE-Tais morning, at ten minutes 20
tleht cIOtk the inmates of Mrs. Smiths
boar oing- g-house. at the northwest corner of
P.nnss iNania avenue nud AZ street. We're
startled by the report of a pistol from one OF
the upper rooms. and on proceeding TO a room
an the upper story. found that ITS occupant
Nr. Samuel Hanson. had committed suicide
BY shooting himself with a revolver the bali
entering behind the right ear. aud causing
death instantly. When found he was IiteIess
and bis bed was covered with blood, the pis-
tol. laree-sized Colts, having fallen from his
hand 10 The bed. The deceased was from rs 10
i0 years of age. and well known IN thus city
be having been born aud raised in the Fifth
Ward, where he resided until the breaking out
OF the rebellion, when he went south aud
took position in the rebel post Office depart-
mtnt AT Richmond. He had been at MR.
Smith S abont SIX weeks, and at times appeared
10 be oppressed IN spirits. which he said was
owing 10 the difficulty OF obtaining empIov
ment, coupled with the fact that his brother
has recently been dissipated, and failing to do
on visit near Marlboro
Coroner Woodward was sent for. and ne this
morning empanneled a Jury of inquest who
heard the testimony of several witnesses
Catherine Tyler, a chambermaid, testified tina,
the washerwoman came this morning, and
nnd'ng the door of the room closed, and no
answer being made to her knocks. and called
her, when she opened the door and found him
lying In the bed in a pool of blood He laid in
bid most Of the day yesterday. and told her TO
get some water: also that he would be here but
F" itneSS asked him he was
going out OF the city, and he replied in the
negative. James Richardson, n colored ser
want. testified that he saw the deceased ahout
o'clock last night, when he brought him
some wafer. Deceased thanked him several
times, and he remarked il as strange George
W. Willis testified that the deceased came
10 MS room day before yesterday, and
inquired II anv one had a pistol he could
borrow. but received negative response MI
ID. ID. Faley testified that the deceased was
very pale Yesterday at the breakfast table, and
he thought that the deceased was i'll Mrs
Bette Hassler testified that yesterday she mad
a conversation with the deceased, IN which he
said sit was all over, and see no hone" He
seemed In very depressed spirits, and SAID he
WAS weak. He said he had no means. and h
brother, TO whom his mother had looked for
support, was on spree. He remarked 10 her
day or TWO since that he had seen something
dead on the street and he envied it, W. n
Barker testified that The conduct of the ac-
cused was singular. that he had thought his
mind was affected.
In the room was found an unfinished niaca
OF manuscript, which was identified rs being
iu the handwriting of the deceased stating that
circumstances over which he had no control
had reduced him from comparatively easy
circumstances to almost absolute v-nt The
Jury returned verdict that the deceased came
TO his death by shooting himself while labor
ing under temporary insanity, caused by fam
lily difficulties.
A PARK FOR THE DIsTRICT.-The following
petition Is IN circulation IN the District cities .
n
hues cf the United States. IN Congress assembled
The petition of the undersigned citizens of The
united States. residing in Washington and
GeorgefCwn. respectfully presents that they
are compelled by the necessity of the public
service, or ef the private business in which
they are engaged, to reside in the cities of
Washington and Georgetown during the hot
season Of the year, and that they feel for them
selves and for their families the great need of
some public park within a con tenient distance
OF their residences, to which they could resort
after the labor of the day, and to which thew
could send their wives and children during
the heat OF the day for relief from the heated
and impure air of the city.
That they believe that such a park-with
easy and cheap means of access bv a passen
ger railway, and within easy walking dis
tance OF the Inhabited parts OF the cities-could
be purchased and improved at this time al
moderate cost. the expenses to be defrayed by
suitable taxation; and that il would as has
been the case with the Central Park, i'm the
city OF New York. conduce greatly 10 the
hfalfh and comfort Of the population of this
District, and enhance the value of property nv
making the Districta more desirable place of
residence. They therefore pray your honora.
BILE bodies to provide for securing, at the EARL.
est practicable day, such a park-of not less
tnan one thousand acrcs-by enacting the ne.
cessary incorporating for the appointment
OF commissioners, or others, for the issuing of
cerhficates OF loan, and for the necessary levy
OF taxes to pay the expenses Of purchase or
condemnation OF the land, and for its enclo
sRre for the op ming Of roads, and the gradual
annualimproyemento ofthe grounds. Such park
10 be open and free for ever, for the use of the
people, under proper regulations of police. but
without charge for admission And your piti
TONERS will ever pray.