Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-06
m WAS SUICIDE.


The body Of George Mack, the wheelwright,
that was found in puddle Of water on North
Capitol street at an early hour Monday morn-
ing, as published In yesterdays STAB, was
placed in the morgue, where an autopsy was
made yesterday. This morning Coroner Pat
terson held an inquest over the body. The de-
ceased was about sixty years old. He came
here from Switzerland few years ago.
John Eller, No. 43 n street northwest, testi-
fed that he had known the deceased for years;
that he was a wheelwright by trade and was
native of Switzerland Witness last saw the
deceased about O'Clock Sunday evening. He
had been drinking, but was not intoxicated.
When he left witness house he had no money.
Witness said that he was a peaceable man and
not very apt to get into trouble. The deceased,
he said, had been in the Freedman's hospital
and was discharged on Friday. Witness never
knew the deceased to carry a knife.
The coroner showed witness the knife found
near where the body was discovered. but wit
ness could not identify it. Witness then pro-
duced his own knife, which looked something
like the one found, and the coroner remarked
that it he (witness) had lost his knife, the one
found might easily have been identified as his.
DIR. HARrIaAN TESTIFIED
that he examined the body yesterday and found
two wounds Of the wrist. One Of them was
quite deep and divided an artery. There must
have been considerable hemorrhage from the
wounds. The examination of the internal or
gans showed a general bloodless condition. but
no evidence of disease. There may have been
pre,existing debility, but exhaustion from loss
OF blood witness thought was the cause Of
death. The principal wound was evidently
made by blade such as is in the knife found
Witness was impressed with the belief that
THE WOUNDS WERE SUICIDAL ONES,
at least that was the probability. There we're
no other marks about his body. Witness
thought that the wounds might have been in
ficted some distance from where the body was
found; that he tainted from loss Of blood and
fell hoadlong into the pool of water.
Michael Downey, at whose house deceased
lived testified that he last saw him about 10
O'Clock Sunday morning. He only knew him
as George" When George left witness house
IN the morning he put his overcoat across his
shoulders, and witness told him not to come
back any more. He told him SO because he (de-
ceased) had been sleeping in witness kitchen.
and the children did not like to have him there
in the morning when they got up. Witness
never knew deceased to have a knife.
txIsaac Blagden, an old colored man who lives
at the tar sheds on North Capitol street, testi-
heard somebody kicking up a fuss" He did
not think they were quarreling.
WHY HE THOUGHT DECEASED A ''aoop" NAN.
Witness was asked whether he knew the man
or not, and he replied in the affirmative. "And
he was a good gentman, too" added the old
man, ''many dram has he give me-"
And that's why you thought he was q good
MANI" interrupted the coroner
"Yes. SIR" answered witness, ''but IL any
man offers me dram Use goin' ter drink il if I
lives"
Policeman Oliver testified that when he went
for the body he found it in pool of water, face
down. His hands were uplifted. His hat, coat
and knife were found some distance from the
pool next to Mr.. Felt's house. His coat was
covered with blood. The body was first found
by a colored man who lives on Pierce street.
Jacob Eller, one Of the jurors, testified that on
Sunday Mack told him that he Mack was tired
OF life; that he was sick and did not think that
he would live any longer. Witness thought
then that he intended to commit suicide.
VERDICT OF SUICIDE.
The jury returned verdict that the deceased
came to his death from an incised wound of
the wrist inflicted with a knife, as the Jury be-
lieyes held in his oup hands