Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-23
Supposed suicide.-Patrick Fitzgerald,

Supposed Suicide.-Patrick Fitzgerald,
a white man, aged twenty-siX years, was
found about II o'clock yesterday morning
in the cabin of the canal mail-boat Ella,
lying at the Congress street wharf, George
town, dying from pistol shot wound
in his head, just back of his right temple.
Tho fact was reported to the police by
Rozier Webster, who made the discovery,
and medical aid summoned. DR.. Shekell
was the first physician to arrive, and pro-
nounced the wound fatal DR.. Kelly, who
visited the man about o'clock, recommend
ed his removal to the hospital, there being a
very slight chance that he might recover
Accordingly the police ambulance was sent
for, and Fitzgerald was taken to Providence
hospital. He died, however, on reaching
that institution, and his body was brought
back TO the Georgetown station-house The
coroner was notified, and will hold an in
quest this morning From what could be
learned by Post reporter, it appears that
Fitzgerald was employed to carry the mail
between Georgetown and Great Falls by j..
G. Reside, living on Vermont avenue, in this
city. In the summer he was the pilot Of
Resides boat, and in winter carried the mail
in carriage or on horseback He left Great
Falls Wednesday afternoon, and well-sub-
stantiated rumor was that he was given q
sum of money by Mr.. Howard A. Garrett,
who keeps store at Great Falls, to pur-
chase goods or deposit in bank. AS he had in
his possession Farmers & Mechanics Ma
tional bank book of CARROTS the latter sup
position is inclined to- There were, no re-
cent deposits credited in the book He slept
in the boat Thursday night as was his Gus
tom, and after he awoke yesterday morning
went to the house of James Cation and got
his breakfast. He was observed to be very
melancholy and morose Although gener-
ally silent man, he was yesterday morn
ing even more so than usual. When asked
by Mrs. Cation, who observed that he held
his head bowed over his plate, if he wished
anything more, he merely shook his head
and refused to speak. After he left the house
he returned to the boat and went up on the
Congress street bridge, where he was OBJ
served smoking as late as half-past o'clock.
About 10 o'clock colored man in a shoe
shop on the opposite side of the street heard
pistol shot, but seeing no commotion paid
no attention to it. A little before II o'clock
Webster, who is employed as engineer on
the boat in summer, went to tell Fitzgerald
that the assistant carrier, Lorenzo Hill, would
not carry the mail yesterday, as he had been
to ball at Great Falls the night previous
and would not return in time He dis
covered then what had happened In Fitz.
gerald's pockets were found $23 in cash, the
balance Of $50 which he had been paid by
Reside on Wednesday The police, who
Immediately commenced an investigation TO
determine whether the deed was done ac-
cdentally or Intentionally, found that Fitz-
gerald had played cards Wednesday night
The rumor thereupon gained credence that
he had lost CARROTS money at gambling, to
which he is addicted, and committed sui
eide. The pistol was Colts revolver, army
size, and lay by the side of the man. The
hammer had been raised far enough 10 re-
volye the chamber about half way 30 the
next bullet. The weapon WAS loaned to
Fitzgerald some time ago by Mr.. Reside,
for protection on the boat. 1t was at first
supposed that the shooting was accidental,
but this is hardly probable. The walls Of
IL. 80 -
ing that he had shot himself standing up.
The deceased leaves two brothers and a sis
ter One OF the former was with him yes
terday. Fitzgerald, being unconscious from
the time he WAS discovered until his death,
was unable To assign the reason Of the deed
- Washington Post, l6 instant
When the deceased spoken Of in the above
article first came to this county he worked
in the employ Of Mr.. Cavan, while complet-
ing his section on the NJ 3. r. r. He was
then quite young. Afterwards he went to
the Great Falls, which place he made his
home up to the time Of his death. Patsy, as
he was familiarly known, was quite favor
ito at his home, and bore an unquestioned
character. The inference that he committed
suicide on account Of the expenditure of the
large amount Of money he had been en-
trusted with by Mr.. Garrett is dispelled by
the statement Of that gentlemen that he had
given Patsy only ten dollars TO pay insur-
ance. The deceascd's friends believe that he
came to his death BY foul-play, and that he
never committed suicide
The coroner's jury returned verdict
shat the said Patrick Fitzgerald came to
his death about O'clock p. NJ, January
Is, 1880, in the police ambulance, while in
transit to the Providence Hospital, from a
pistol shot wound in the head, inflicted by
himself, but we are unable 10 say whether
the death was accidental or by suicide