Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-23

A Young Geor9ian's Tragic Death In
the sixth AudtSOe'o O0es.

A Young 0eoeeiaa's Tragic Death In
the Sixth Audtsse's Ones.
DISAPPOINTED IN LOVE AND DEPRESSED BIZ
DISSIPATION HI sfrs DOWN AT HIS DESK AND
SHOOTS HInsELr-ANorHEa ASTON "DIEs
WITH HIS BOOTS on"
When Robert w. Aston, . clerk in the record.
ing division Of the sixth auditors Office, located
In the Marini hall building. on e street, be-
tween 9th aud 10th, reported for duty this
morning. the chief Of his division. Mr.. II. A.
HARRISON. urged him TO go home, saying that
he would excuse him. Mr.. Aston had been
drinking heavily for some days, and was In
state of high nervous excitement, which unified
him, Mr.. HARRISON believed, for work.
No." said Mr.. Aston; Il am going to put an
end to this thing"
THAT Is nonsense" said Mr.. HARRISON; "you
Will not do anything OF the kind"
Then Aston went down the steps 20 the base
menL where his desk was located. Mr.. haral-
son. turning back into his own room. asked his
deputy, MI. Patterson, "WhaL do you think 4
Nh, Paterson ' ana Mr H 10 ca soth d
that man who made such Q threat was not
likely TO carry it out
TRAGEDY AT DESK.
Mr.. Aston meanwhile passed through the
long basement to his desk at the south end OF
the building. He sat down apparently in q
pen and going to work, he took q thirty -eis Int
calber revolver from mis- pocket placed IL at
low clerks. MeSsrs. Hickey, Evans and Will
ilams, knew what he Was about They rushed
10 nim al once, but 1t was to late. The heavy
oaii mad crushed through the temple, passed
through the anterior lobe of the brain and out
on the left side. The pistol was placed 40 near
ms mead that the hair was snged and the skull
BADLY shattered. The bullet alter passing
through Alstons head, struck the wall aud
knocked out patch oil plastering. Dr. Dudley
; molSah was quickly summoned and admins
Tered hypoderinic Injections which kept Al
ston alive for about forty-five minutes, though
ne was not restored u consciousness. He died
little alter ten O'clock. the tragedy OF course
created great excitement In the office and the
clerks In the basement were excused for the
remainder Of the day. The coroner made an
from suicide. The remains were turned over 10
an undertaken to prepare for burial
YOUNG ALsroN's CAREER.
Aston was about % years Old, unmarried
and well-known In this city, especially among
Georgians and southern men. he came from At
VINO was suot and killed about six years a 20 at
Atlanta, by u prison cOntracor named Cox
ioung Aston has been employed "A clerk in
the sixth auditors office from about the time of
the beginning OF the present administration.
Before that he had been employed at the Capt.
toll He was a man Of fine physique. rather
handsome appearance, and quite u favorite
with the young ladies oil his acquaintance. lie
went occasionally on sprees and, il is said on
sucn occasions drank very deeply. He had re-
Gently been on such spree and was reported
10 the sixth auditor tor absence from
ONCE. He was still suffering from the
effects of his debauch when he went
to the office this morning, and It was his
appearance that led Mr.. HARRISON TO urge him
To go home. Alston's ieiiow-cierks knew OF no
due 70 the effects OF Alston's debauch.
II Is said, however, that he was wildly In love
with young lady OF this city, who would not
receive his attentions on account of his dissi-
pated habits. This disappointment in love ia
thought To- have led to his suicide. Aston
lived with q friend On 9Th street, south Wash.
In Georgia.
DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON.
There is strange fatality about the family"
said Georgian TO STAR reporter. "All the
men die with their boots Oh. Alston's father.
you know. Was killed 10y Cox. He had three
1eVe, were Killed. II seems to Inc that young
Aston has just saved some one the trouble OF
killing him and the expense OF a trial"
"A LETTER TO HIS AUNT.
Aston wrote a letter to his aunt this morn.
ing, and only few minutes before he COM
mitted suicide he handed the letter over TO
Major Evans, one OF the clerks i'm the office
saying he would entrust IL To him to forward to
Mr.. Henry Richardson, of the Atlanta Cbnsti-
tuition. The letter, he said, was an open one,
and he asked Major Evans TO read it, which he
afterwards did. Aston then spoke 10 auothe r
Gierk and stood brushing his hair. Major
Evans thought he was acting some What strange
and watched him. A mOiaeut later, Major
EvaAS says, Aston took from his pocket Inc
revolver and was looking at IT. Major Evans
spoke to him ABOUT handling the weapon aud
started across the room 10 take il from him, but
before he reached him, he put the revolver TO
his right temple aud pulled the trigger. The let
ter addressed TO Mr.. Richardson did not e explain
The cause OF his act, but spoke i'm affectionate
terms OF MS aunt and younger sister, whom he
asks Mr.. Richardson TO look after and that
She attends school. II also states that he has
received u letter from his aunt and will die
with IL In his pocket. Aston Is from Decatur
Georgia, and is we'll known in Atlanta
The friends OF Mr.. Aston are requested to
meet at the Metropolitan hotel Tonight al eight
O'clock - take some action In regard 70 his
death.