Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-03
SUDDEN DEATH or 4 MARINE
Was it Case OF seif-DesuuctiOn "A
Jury Of Inquest.

jury q inquest
Ambrose j RntIedge. q corporal
in the United States Marine Gorns
stationed at the Naval Academy died
this morning at the barracks under
circumstances that pointed TO self
destruction. Corporal Rutledee has
been in respondent mood for a
couple of days. He received a letter
o few days ago that brought him in
telligence Of illness of his mother. 10
whom he appeared to be much at
tached, and this, it is supposed, led
to bis suicide.
Corporal Rutledge left the Acad-
envy last night twenty minutes to /
O'Clock, and returned bali hour later
The CAPITAL man met him 10 front
OF Robeck's confectionery, opposite
the State House, and exchanged
salntations He was seen III his
bunk at the Academy barracks at s
o'clock by one of the sergeants of the
Academy.
Sergeant Stanley, who was SER
geant of the guard at the time, was
notified early this morning that some
thing was wrong in Rutledge's room,
on the east side of the building, fac
ing the river, and went to investigate
the matter. Knowing of Rutledge's
strict temperate habit, the informa-
ton that Rutledge was acting like q
drunken man gave him doubts to as
the truthfulness of the report.
He found Rutledge unconscious
and knew that he must be i'll but
never suspected that be had taken
poison 1t afterwards transpired that
Rutledge purchased two ounces of
laudnum last night from Messrs
Hodges drug store on Main street
As no pbial could be found ia his
room the suppostion is he drank the
contents and then threw the phial
out the window.
Everything that could be done was
availed of to save the life of Corporal
Rutledge, but without success. Ser
geant Stanly, after learning of the
circumstances Immediately reported
the matter to the physicians and the
commanding officer of the barracks. -
DR.. Steele, of the navy, was the first
physician to arrive. Others came
later. Capt. McLane Tilton, the
commanding officer, and DIR. Steele
administered restoratives but without
effect, and remained with the dying
man until be died at 10 O'Clock this
morning four hours after attention
was called to bis condition The sui
eide apparently suffered no great
agony.
Supt. Ramsay upon learning of the
affair, sent out for Coroner Thompson,
and officer Basil summoned an in
quest, as follows:
+. Eugene Wathen, foreman; I. N.
Richardson, Julian Brewer, Isaac H.
Hopkins, Thomas Muuroe, G. w.
Hall, Daniel Z. Davis, W. Ii. Pindell,
Geo. L. Feldmeyer, Grafton Munroe
and Chas IL. Dexter.
The jury after viewing the body
examined several witnesses when the
above facts were brought out. As
no phial indicating the presence of
laudanum could be found, and a salts
factory verdict could not be arrived
at, the jury took recess until to-
night. In the meantime an autopcy
will be held. The physicians present
testified that the symptoms of the
man indicated the presence of some
kind of drug, but were unable to
state whether or not it was laudanum.
Deceased was an intelligent young
man. of retiring disposition and at
one time studied law with James Ii.
Hodges, of this city. He was about
25 years old, and came from Whining
ton, Del, where his parents reside
They have been telegraphed for.
Rutledge participated in the naval
cadets recent cruise, and accompanied
the detail of Naval Academy Marines
to Panama during the troubles there
q few months ago.
Mr.. j. w. Hodges & Co, who sold
the laudanum to RutIedge, said the
marine asked for two ounces of laud-
anum, remarking at the time that be
was suffering from severe case of
neuralgia of the face. Mr.. Hodges
noticed that Rutledge's face appeared
to be swollen, but advised him to
use chloroform liniment instead Rut-
ledge replied that he had already used
that remedy but found that it gave
him no relief. He said be bad used
laudanum before with satisfaction aud
desired to use the article again. which
was given him. Capt. Tilton was 10 the
drug store at the time the purchase
was made. OF course the druggist
who sold the laudanum is not to
blame in the matter.
~. nn.,tn~se Tlorrh4nr qsns.ich4