Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-05
SHOT HIMSELF IN THE HEAD.
Sensational Suicide Of Frederick Reich.
enbach This Morning.


HI GOES TO A SECLUDED SPOT N THE MONUMENT
oAouNDs, LIES DOWN OK Knoll UNDER THE
MAGNOLIA BLOSSOMS AND BLOWS HIS BRAINS
our-ATFEcrINa LErrER TO HIS WIFE.
'My Dear Wife: Ny whole life to you has
been life Of deceit You have been gnilty of
nothing wrong. God help you and the little
ones and forgive me for shat am about to do.
''Your loving husband, FRED"
Such was the note that Fred Reichent ach
addressed to his wife and put in his pocket be-
fore taking his own life this morning, which
he did by shooting himself in the right temple
with "bull dog" revolver.
Frederick Reichenbach was we'll known in
this city. He was one of the best piano tuners
here and was in the employ of the Knabe Com
pany. He came here from Baltlm ore q num-
Der Of years ago and married q daughter of
Judge Plant
HIS COMPOSED MANNER BEFORE THE ACT.
This morning he appeared at the Washington
branch Of the knabe Piano Company on Market
space and reported for duty as usual He was
unusually pleasant to the young man in charge
OF the store, but the latter noticed something
strange about Reichenbach's appearance and
asked him:
whats the natter"
"Oh, nothing" was Reichenbach's reply.
He took off his hat and coat and was ready to
work. There were some tuning orders on the
book for Alexandra and they were assigned to
MIN. Taking the addresses on q piece of paper
he put the slips in his pocket and left the
store, going across to the south side of Penn
sylvania avenue, but instead OF going to the
steamboat wharf or depot to 60 to Alexandria
be walked as far as the Smithsonian grounds
and from there he passed through the parks
until he reached the monument grounds near
the front entrance to the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing.
THE LAST SCENE OF ALL
Taking the path leading to the propagating
gardens he wendell his way along and around
the fence. Then he walked some distance
until he reached a large magnolia tree,
where there is little knoll
above the marshy ground where
the tide makes up. Under the magnolia
blossoms he rested his weary form and
placed his head on the green sod beside
him. Then he crossed his legs and in a few
seconds he had passed into the other world.
He only fired one shot, but that proved suffi-
cient and death must have ensued almost
instantly.
The men at work in the gardens heard the
shot, but they paid no attention to il, as there
are gunners on the fats shooting birds almost
every day.
THE BODY DISCOVERED.
Nearly half an hour afterward a colored
woman who was making a short cut across the
marshy path saw the body of the dead man and
pool OF blood near his head. She fastened
to house near by and informed Miss Annie
Sullivan Of the CHASTITY find.
Word was at once sent to the propagating
gardens and then the police we're notified
When Lieut.. Amiss and Officer Cross went with
the patrol wagon for the body number Of
persons had collected there. among
them several persons from the White
House. The revolver which had
done the deadly work was living OH the ground
near the body and there was enough to satisfy
the officers that the man had committed
suicide, but some one suggested that
he had been beaten and then the
evidence in the shape of letter, with the re-
suit above stated. The body was placed in the
patrol wagon and taken home to his wife and
children at No. 1908 Sth street northwest and
Coroner Patterson was notified.
The Steel Wild Court Martial.
The Steel-Wlld court-martal is transferred
from Chicago to Washington, the record Of the
court having been received at the War Depart
ment this morning. The record is quite
voluminous. giving in extenso the
testimony taken, together with the charges
preferred and the conclusion of the court as to
what was and what was not proven. Endorsed
ON the record is the name of the staff officers
IN charge at Chicago and the name of Gen J.
NJ Schofeld in charge pro tenn of the Depart
ment of the Missouri The record was at once
placed in the hands of Acting Judge Advocate
General Lieber He will proceed at once to go
carefully over the record to see that all the
legal requirements have been complied with
and then make his report direct to Major Gen.
Schof1eld. After the record reaches Gen.
Schofeid he will indicate his Judgment as to
the correctness Of the findings in the light of
the evidence and the army regulations and the
case will then reach Secretary Proctor for his
final and conclusive action
No animation can be gathered in official
quarters as TO the recommendations and find
ings of the court and nothing authoritative will
be known until Secretary Proctor makes the
record public. This stage of the case will not
be reached, it is thought, for ten days or two
weeks.
Arrangements in the Criminal Court
In the Criminal Court Chief Justice Bing-
ham, there were number of arrangements, &c.
this morning. Frank johnson, indicted for
perjury in having sworn falsely in the case Of
Andrew Smith, charged with assault on James
Watson, in the Police Court October last,
plead not guilty
Annie Dutton, colored, charged with receiy-
ing female child in a house Of prostitution
February 20. plead not guilty.
II. II. Tucker, alias W. S. Scott indicted for
false pretenses in obtaining S49 so in cash and
rings from Helena Audenreid, February 5, by
engaging her to sing in an opera mpany
plead not guilty.
Edward +. Gray, a young man charged with
forging check Of the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad and passing the same on Herman 4
Bro, February IL, plead not guilty
VIM. Williams alias VIM. Walter Smith. coll
ored, charged with embezzling SIS 10 from NJ
Lulley. February II, plead not guilty
James Campbell colored indicted for house,
breaking at the stable Of S. Emery, March 49,
plead not guilty.
Mamie Graham. colored girl of small size,
was arraigned for HOUSEKEEPING at the resi-
dence Of Wilson n. Fuller, February %, and
plead not guilty.
+. W. Fox, libel, plead not guilty.
The Cadets Want to Parade.
A delegation of five High School Cadets.
headed by Capt Grafton, made a round of
official calls this morning in an en-
deavOr to secure place in the line
OF the military review to be held
next Friday in honor of the Pan American dele
gates. They first went to see Mr. Wharton, as
slstant secretary Of state, who referred them to
the President Then they made the journey