Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-14
A MONTH OF SUICIDES.
Seven Cases Of Self.Destruction Here In
October.

seven cases OF SeI1.Destructlon Here In
|. October.
There is something in the early autumn,
when the leaves begin to turn on the trees,
when the frost nips the sewers and when all
nature appears to be approaching dissolution,
that has a peculiarly expressing effect upon
persons Of weak and impressionable natures.
Those with tendency TO melancholy feel that
all is growing cold and dark around them and
too frequently seek escape from the terrible
depression in suicide. October is, therefore,
known as the suicides month. Suicides, like
other crimes and accidents, are epidemic; and
when one man, or woman as the case may be.
resorts to violence to take his own life another
case or two are almost sure to follow. Such
has been the experience of officials who have
charge of statistics In regard to suicides.
SEVEN CASES IN THIS DISTRICT.
Last month in this District there were seven
cases of suicide. Pistols and poisons and other
methods of destroying life were employed.
The first case happened on the 9Th of the
month, when Robert Spear, q lawyer, seventy
years old, took his own life. He had no doubt
given the matter as careful consideration as
his faculties would permit and probably came
to the conclusion that drowning was the
proper and perhaps the most painless mode,
for he jumped into the water from the Free
bridge, which is the highest bridge across the
river.
AN OLD SOLDIER SHOOTS HIMaELF.
Two days later another suicide followed.
The victim in this case was Isaac Markell, an
old soldier. Like Spear his intention was to
end his life, and he selected place where he
could not be interfered with. He selected
pistol as the means OF ending his existence.
and having been old soldier he had no
doubt seen persons die from gunsbot wounds
and knew that IL the weapon was properly
directed 1t meant sure death A bullet was
sent through his brain and the following
morning his dead body was found on the road
near Takoma Park.
The same day Edward Cations body was
found near the Executive Mansion. He had
died from strangulation by getting his neck
between the upright pieces OF the iron fence.
1t was not known, however, whether he COM
mitted suicide or mott
Frederick Roe was the next victim, and he
did the last act of his life two days later than
the old soldier. He took dose Of cyanide Of
potash and medical skill was of no avail He
left letter behind him for his bereaved rela-
tives to read. so that they might know why the
deceased was tired of life. The other two left
no written evidence.
HANGS HERSELF IN THE STATION.
Christine Chelsey was the next person who
was tired Of this life and wanted to see the
hereafter before she was TO die natural DEATH
She was a colored woman and was locked up in
police coll two days after Roe had taken his
life. Christmas mind was no doubt unequally
balanced when she was incarcerated. Efforts
to break either the lock or the bars proved I'M
successful and she evidently came to the con-
clusion that the only way she could escape was
that she would have to be taken out dead She
succeeded by hanging herself to the iron bars
OF the prison cell.
That was on the 14th of the month, and six
days elapsed before there was another sui
eide. This time pistol was again used, and
the person whose life was ended was Mr.. A. b.
Mullett the architect, whose sad fate caused
deep regret in the community.
CLERK TAKES FOLSOM.
Eleven days later, on the last day of the
month, James 3. Peake, department. clerk,
drank about an ounce of q mixture of cartolic
acid and laudanum. Pcake had good COM
Portable home and family, but he took the
fatal dose and ended his life without giving
any reason therefor
The last one to ass.away by his own act was
Morris Sullivan. an inmate of st. Elizabeth's
Hospital who came to his death from strangu-
lation. the result of an attempt to initiate an
execution for some crime,