Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-01
ARRESr.-THEN SuIcIDEi
Barrett r. Munson Kills Himself witt
strychnine in the Attic of the Fedora


Barrett IL. MunsOn kAiliS himself Win
strychnine in the Attic of the Federal
Building.
Barrett f. Munson, gray-bearded man
nearly 20 years of age, committed suicide
Saturday at noon in the attic prison of the
Federal building.
The suicide was United States prisoner.
he having been arrested only an hour or
so previously by United States Marshal
Mahaify. The warrant was sworn out by
Post-office Inspector William ]. Maxwell
on the charge of sending threatening let
ters to parties in the employ of the Edge
Moor Iron Company.
The arrest was made at the p, W. & B.
railroad station by United Estates Marshal
Mahaffy. in company with Inspector Max
we'll. The unfortunate man was brought
TO the Federal Building and locked up in
the attic jail with another prisoner who
was subsequently taken over TO the police
station.
Munson prayed the marshal to send him
up some water. "Idon't drink beer at all,'
tile prisoner exclaimed, but | drink lots
of water The marshal then left the
building after sending up Janitor Jim
Winchester with glass Of water.
Winchester waited for the tuinbler when
Munson exclaimed, ''Wont you leave it
with me?" This the janitor did, but no
ticed that Munson stood up turning his
phth " HAM Dtil ilAo ilOt CAG4lC any
interest and the jauitor went down stairs.
Suddenly the alarm came that the man
upstairs bad tainted The officials ran
quickly up the one flight of iron steps.
Between the bars the old mans lonely
form was seen stretched out, his snow
white beard almost hiding his fece, and
showing indications that he had just
passed through fit of some kind. He
commenced to groan again and his body
was bent double in agonizing throes.
Deputy Marshal Watson tried to ascer-
tain what was the matter with him, when
the dying man blurted out that he had
taken medicine for heart disease. Mr..
Watson then left in order to fetch DR..
Wales. He was unsuccessful, and on his
return the man was dead. DIR. Miller,
who had meanwhile arrived, stated, I'M
hesitatingly, from the facts told him, that
Munson had poisoned himself probably
with strychnine.
The tunibler was found half emptied.
Suspicious looking papers were found
lying around, two OF them neatly folded
up drug store style, and one paper con-
tanned white dust.
About I.30 o'clock Coroner Sparks ar
rived and took charge of the body. A
watch and several letters and papers were
found in the suicides pockets, but nothing
to indicate why he took his life in this
summary manner.
Munson is an old employee of the Edge
Moor Company, where he was q boss
blacksmith for many years. Subsequently
he was employed for about year at the
Jackson & Sharp yards. For some time
he was also engaged at bridge building in
Pennsylvania.
He has been out of work more recently,
and it is supposed that this preyed upon
his mind
Mlmson lived at No. Sos East Ninth
street. He leaves wife and three daugh-
tiers.
Your prisoner is dead, reporter said,
addressing District-attorney Beniah Wat
son.
Yes, he was in custodia legis," replied
Mr.. Watson, but hope he is now in a
better place"
The other prisoner informed in the Fed
oral prison was Thomas Mullin, also ar
ra'ted Saturday on the charge of passing
counterfeit coin.
Three or four months ago the deceased
was charged with running one OF the get
rich quick" concerns at his residence, the
head office of the concern was in Phila-
delphia and was one of those broken up
by the repeated attacks of the press in that
city. The body was inferred in Riveryiew
cemetery yesterday afternoon.