Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-20
FOUND DEAD IN THE GRASS.
Sad Suicide or Dr. Thomas o. Hills. Jr.
4 TRAGEDY IN THE GROUNDS SOUTH OF THE
PRESIDENTS HoUsE-DRIvEN TO SELF-DE-
TRUCTIoN BY THE PANGs OF DISEASE

TRAGEDY IN THE GROUNDS SOUTH OF THE
PRESIDENTS HoUsE-DRIvEN TO sELF-DE-
TRUcTIoN BY THE PANGs OF DISEASE.
At o'clock this morning two men passing
through the grounds south of the Presidents
mansion saw the form of a man lying on his
back, near the cente of the wide oval grass plot
known as the elipse. The body was about five
hundred feet from the nearest point of the road
way which passes around the elipse The at
tention of the watchman in the grounds, John
Gormley, was called to this intruder. When he
went to the spot where the man lay he found
that he was dead. He lay on his back in the
grass In an easy attitude, as though he had
fallen asleep. His hands were thrust into his
pantaloons pockets and his feet were crossed.
and he was lying in such a position that If he
had risen he would have faced the monument.
From this fact the watchman and others who
walked upon the grass plot from the north
side and proceeded southwark until he
had found spot where he thought he could die
In peace. The body was that Of a young man
Slightly bald, with a reddish muStache. He
was very neatly dressed. Police Officers Cattell
ana Saikeld were summoned and took charge
OF the body, message was sent for a police
ambulance, but through some miscal riage the
ambulance did not arrive until nearly eight
gathered in the grounds and looked in in wonder Rar
at the body, which lay there with the sunlight
' streaming down upon the pale face. The Off.
its Identity They found q watch and chain
and small sum Of money.
NOTES FOUND IN THE POCKETS.
In one pocket was note, upon yellow paper,
addressed to the father of the dead man, saying
that he was tired of life, being unable longer to
stanc the agony of the illness with which he suf-
fered. He had consequently taken morphia.
The note also made q touching allusion to his
mother; expressed bis love for her, who he said
was one OF the best mothers in the world; and
beSOught her not to grieve for him. In another
pocket was found ON yellow slips of paper, some
mem9randum % Of small debts which he owed,
ana his initials and address, 1T. .. II. jr., 4O6
18th street,
From these notes the body was identified as
iHas H. Q, the nomas dnss;st Gyer Hills son Of Dr.
or. Hills was notified, and arrived at the fourth
precinct station, on X street, about the time the
body had been delivered there by the ambu-
lance.
Coroner Patterson, after examining the case
at the station house, gave certificate OF death
rom suicide, having decided that an inquest
was unnecessary.
THE DECEASED
was nearly twenty-four years of age and un-
married. He practiced dentistry with his
father, having graduated with distinction a
few years ago from the Baltimore dental col
gaiety, aud greatly beloved by ali who knew
him. He has suffered acuteiy with Brights
disease, but has borne his sufferings uncom-
plaintngly. Last night he visited his aunt, Mrs.
Russell. who lives on E street, near 9th, and
remained with her until eleven O'Clock, talking
cheerfully, and giving no indication of any in
tention to destroy himself. After leaving Mrs.
Russell he returned home fora while and talked
with his mother before she retired for the
must have wandered about for some time be-
fore he took the fatal dose and COM
posed himself to die in the grass plot
where he was found. When the body was
found the indications were that death had oc-
Cured only recently, as the limbs were not
rigid. No one saw him 60 upon the grass plot.
The members of the family were greatly dis
tressed by the sad occurrence. There was, SO
one of the family said to a STAR reporter, no
love affair or pecuniary difficulty leading to the
suicide. He was in good pecuniary circum-
stances, being engaged with his father in q lu-
cratiye practice The acute suffering caused by
the disease OF which be was o victim, was alone
the cause of the fI0xefly