Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-23
DROWNED IN THE SEVERN.
Suicide Of q Maryland Politician.

A telegram from Annapolis, December 81, says:
The startling announcement was made to-day of
the disappearance with indications OF suicide, OF
William F. Wilmington, prominent farmer OF
the second district, and the backbone OF the re-
publican party Of Anne Arundel county. Mr..
Wilmington left home yesterday afternoon In eX-
celen spirits Sying to his vile Snat ne naa on ss,
seen at Baldwin's store, at waterbury, station on
the Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore rail-
road, short distance from his home and about ten
miles from Annapolis. This was last evening,
about seven O'Clock. He engaged for short Time
in conversation with party OF gentlemen, and
when he LETT 1t was thought that he was on his re-
turn home.
Not having returned at midnight, Mrs. Whit
tingtOn sent q messenger for her husband. He
was not found but at an early hour this morning
the rtderless horse returned to its home Another
search, In which many citizens OF the nelghbor-
Mr.. Wilmington had had difficulty with one OF
his hands few days ago, and suspicion Was
excitement reached white heat az this stage,
particularly among the colored people, who looked
up to him in that district as a sort OF deml-god.
Some Of the party found by tracks In the snow
where Wilmington had dismounted from his
horse The tracks were followed and led TO the
Severn river. OF from the shore, wedged in last
nights new made ice, was boat, and in this
was found Mr.. Whittingtons hat and number OF
receipts that were recognized as his. No ehort
was made to recover the body to-day, but an at
tempt will be made tomorrow.
Mr. Wilmington is the son-n-law OF Chief Judge
Rfgnal d. woodward, OF the orphans court OF TINS
county. The missing man was sergeant In Capt.
Thomas Watkins cavalry company during the
late war, and was a man OF unf1inching courage.
He was prominent in politics. and for several years
held position In the internal revenue Office under
Collector Sellman which place he resigned TO take
the nomination for sheriff last fall in this county,
tunes OF the opposition and nearly brought them
victory. His side was beaten by pluralities rang
ing from 10 to H. votes Since then he has fol-
ton. is the principal OF pubic school in Balti-
more county. Nj. Whitnngton remarked to Mr..
Williams yesterday that he had some legal bust
ness to settle up and he did not know what would
happen. Wilmington was an effective speaker
with the colored people during u political cam
patgn.
Mr.. wHTTTINGToN's BODY FOUND.
An Annapolis special to the Baltimore american
last night says: The body OF VIM. f. Wilmington
was found this afternoon about O'Clock in the
Severn river by VIM. P. Baldwin and two colored
men. Mr. Wilmington had on his overcoat and his
arms were folded across his breast. Justice II. K.
D0dSOn held an inquest, the jury returning YER
dict OF suicide. There were no marks Oh violence
OF western Maryland, organizing temperance
lodges, and had been at home but few days. On
the day OF the suicide {Monday) he had received
business letter that had depressed him very much.
He remarked he was going to be sued. When he
started for home Tuesday night from Bal,lwin's
store he babe Mr.. Baldwin goodbye, SAYING he
must hurry home. as his wife was going 10 Wash
ingtOn the next day. He rode short distances got
down ana tied his horses rein TO the Saddle as he
and sent him back home alone. lie left the horse
on the read and it wandered home, While the rider
turned to the river about half a mile away. Then
he took the boat, and, breaking mis- way through
the ice with pole for TWO hundred yards, took off
his hat laid the carefully i'll place and plunged
overheard.
He Used the Telephone:
HOW WELL DRESSED swINDLER OPERATED IN
BOSTON.
A well-dreSSed man OF fine appearance was
escorted from elegant apartments at the Hotel
Brunswick Boston, Tuesday, TO cramped and
barren quarters behind bars at police headquar-
tiers. He appeared creslfallen enough as he ans
wered the questions Of the chief inspector. lie
was hotel swindler who has been living In clover
at the Boston hotels for the past two weeks under
the names OF r. c. Hutchinson and Richard Day.
ton, lawyer, OF New York. About two weeks ago
call came over the telephone In the fremont
house for one X. c. Hutchinson, OF New York. The
cierl. replied that no person OF that name Was
there. The voice at the other end OF the line
Stated that he would shortly be there and asked
the clerk to deliver message 10 MIN. Later X.
C. Hutchinson, OF New York. appeared and regiH-
tered. He was veTy aifab.c and said that he Was a
lawyer from New York. He had with him small
handbag as baggage. A room was assigned to
him, and he lived in luxury for week, ordering a
great many extras: Having run up nice little
bill he took his little handbag and walked out
without settling MS accounts.
The same day a man giving the name OF Richard
Dayton, OF New York, registered at the Hotel
Boston on some very important legal business
He had one or the best rOOmS Ia the house, and
This and the fact that he had many extras lei the
hotel people at first TO believe that MIR. Dayton
was well to do. Tuead1y, however, they had
different opinion OF the guest, and so Suspicious
did they become that they asked the police inspec-
tor to investigate. 4 clerk from the fremont
house taken to the Brunswick and given a
peep at Dayton. He Immediately recognized Mr..
Hutchinson, and he was arrested. He claims 10 be
well known and respectfully connected In New
York