Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-11
DEATH BIZ HIS OWN HAND.
Suicide Of ]. Il. Squier, the Banker.
HE CUTS HIS THROAT WITH A
POCKET KNIFE.

A Sufferer From Mental Depression
Caused by the Failure Of His Bank
Coroner Patterson Thinks He Was
Insane When He Committed the Act.
Mr. j. II. SQuier, the banker, committed suicide
this morning at his residence, No. 1914 street
He arose about quarter to z O'Clock, and only re-
marked to his wife that he felt dreadfully depresS
ed. She replied that she felt so, too adding that
she would go to her bath. He replied, every well;
I'll sit here on the bed" A few moments after her
departure, as near as can be judged, he proceeded
without dressing himself, from his bedroom, which
Is In the rear Of the house. to the front chamber,
passing through an intervening bedroom. In the
corner OF the front room stood small dressing
case. Standing in front OF this piece OF furniture
ne seized a small, two bladed pocket knife, and
opening the small blade deliberately cut his throat
from ear to ear, severing the Jugular vein. He
placed the knife upon the stand, and, staggering
about ten feet fell to the floor. His pathway was
marked with blood
Shortly afterwards his Wife returned to the bed
room. Finding that he was not there, she rushed
into the front room, and there sickening sight
met her gaze. stretched upon the noor lay the
huSDand and father, gasping for breath. with blood
gushing from the ghaSIly wound In his throat.
There was no one In the house but these two and
put succeeded In sumnoning assistance. He con-
tlnued to breathe for three-QuarterS OF an hour,
Patterson phe family physican) arrived, at quar-
ter to O'Clock, Mr. Squier just alive and made
few dying gasps
MENTALLY DEPRESSED SINCE HIS FAILURE.
Since the disastrous failure of the bank of which
he was head. on the 7th of June, Mr. Squier has
been very much depressed mentally-indeed to
such an extent as to excite the fears of his wife.
sometimes ne talked incoherently. Three or four
weeks ago he was sick in bed and Coroner Patter-
son (whO, as stated, has always been his family
pnyslclan) was summoned. and found him suffering
with intermittent fever His health gradually i'm
proved. but 1t was impossible TO arouse his spirits
DE- patterson discontinued his visits about week
ago, the patient having sufficiently recovered, and
since then he has been seen on the street occasion
ally. Last night he seemed unusually d d.pressed.
and, as stated above said to his Wife this morning
that he continued to feel So The coroner was
present at the DEATH and, being perfectly satisfied
that it was clear case OF suicide, he decided at
once that no inquest was necessary.
THE ACT OF AN INSANE MAN.
In talking later with STAR reporter the coroner
said that it was not only case OF suicide but that
he was firmly of the opinion that the act was that
In which he was so disastrously entangled as to
have but little hope OF ever recovering, preyed
upon mind In which there was dormant ten
dency to insanity. There is undoub.ed proof that
there was hereditary predisp5sition to insanity,
as at least one member OF his family had been in
sane. 1t was reported that Mr.. SQuer was InI end
Ing to leave the city with his family. This, how
ever, is authoritatively denied. Arrangements had
been made to Stay with friends in Washington, un-
til they could be settled here to board permanently
HIS FAMILY.
The deceased was 81 years Of age, native OF
Vermont He had been resident of Washington
for nearly 20 years. He leaves widow and two
not in the city. The widow will be taken to the
residence OF friends in the city, who will give her
every attention
A Visit to the House.
When STAR reporter assembled the steps OF 1914
street, the late residence OF Mr. Sauier he found
the Grape already on the bell pull, and standing In
front OF the house was the undertaker's wagon
When the door was opened by the colored servant
the reporter stepped into the hall and thence into
the darkened parlors. Mr.. Edward E. Howes the
brother Of Mrs. Squer, came down stairs, followed
by his wife, and the atters eyes were swollen with
weeping and her face showed the evidence OF SYM
pathy with anothers grief.
mrs. Squler, the reporter was told by Mr.. Howes.
as his wife passed along, was upstairs nearly over
come by the tragic occurrence which had come
upon upon her with the unexpectedness OF lightning
STATEMENT OF MRS SQUIER'S BROTHER
81 was aroused" Said Nr. HOwes, ''at my house.
1905 street, shortly arter7 O'Clock this morning
by message brought by the colored servant from
Mrs. squier, that Mr.. squier had dangerously
as knew that Mrs squier was alone in the house,
with the exception OF the two female servants.
His two little gris who are fifteen and
fathers old home. When 1 reached the house" I"
continued MIR. Howes. 81 found DIR. Patterson and
DR. there Mr. lived but
hour after the occurrence. His wife was
naturally na,Ga very I much o, overcome She @ had
and went out OF the room, which is the back room
In the second story, and crossed the hall to the
bathroom MT: squier had said to her before she
arose that he felt very much depressed In mind and
out OF Spirits but observed nothing unusual After
remaining short time in the bathroom, rs.Squ1er
Mr.. SQuier there, she walked into the adjoining
room, and she saw to her horror her husband lying
stretched out upon the floor near the entrance
shirt was deeply stained with the blood
which poured from CHASTITY wound in his throat,
speak Half frantic with grief and overcome @ % With tn
the horror OF the situation, Mrs Squier managed to
summon the servants and directed them to get
seems that MIR. Squier had walked into the next
room, oo and picking up small penknIe, which he
AN UNEXPECTED ACT.
ibid you anticipate anything OF this sort asked
the reporter.
II hadn't the slightest idea of it," was the reply
81 was up here last night until nearly 10 O'Clock,
and talked with Mr. Squier. He seemed TO be about
as usual. except that he was very much depressed,
as he has been ever since the failure OF the bank
This failure preyed upon hts mind awfully. He has
Deen silent, and he had the appearance OF man
that was very much worried"
"What was the cause of the act In your opinion ?n
continued the reporter
"He was crazy" was the reply. .'There is no
he has oeer right IN his mind for some time. He
has been worrying about his business He was
ruined man and did not save cent from the busi-
ness. He does not own the house. Even this fur
nture is gone. tried to get him to leave the city
month ago. but he would not go. He was afraid
that these people would get after him again and
accuse him OF running away, as they have done OF
cheating and stealing"
Mr. Howes, when asked If the deceased had left
any papers indicating an intention OF taking his
life, or had recently made his WILL said that he left
no papers OF any sort at ALL and that he would not
eave VIII, as It would be OF no use-he had moth:
be no inquest, as the coroner, DR.. Patterson, was
died.
Mr. Howes said that all the arrangements had
not been concluded yet, but he thought that the
1unera! would be held on Monday II the children
arrived in ttme and that the interment would take
place at Oak Hill, where Mr. Squier had a lot
The Recent Failure.
|. The announcement OF the failure of Squiers bank
/ Was made on Saturdax tha 9TH Of Nar,.