Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-22
COULD NOT STAND DISGRACE.
James L. Reed,an ex-PoIiceman Of PhiIa.
delphia, shoots Himself In RoblnsOn'i
yVonda

IT
delphia, shoots Himself In RobinsOn's
Woods.
Coroner Sparks had his attention called
to one of his ssddest cases Of suicide on
Saturday afternoon. William Locker
man, On old coiored man, was walking
through Robinsoa's woods on the search
for muskrats, when he came
across lie body CT young
man. The emains, after investigation,
were ascer,a ned TO BE- the body Of James
l.. Reed, an c. policeman Of Philadelphia.
The body Was lying sbout 500 feet
from the New port bike and about a
dozen feet from s. hat is called the lower
Mill Creek The body was fat upon the
back and the blood had oozsd from a
bullet hole back OF the right temple No
pistol was found about and IL was FIRST
supposed that he had been II murdered.
Lockerman notified Albert Lewis aud his
son Thomas, and the three made an ex-
animation Of the body TO find whether
the man was dead. Finding that life had
left the body, they notified Coroner
sparks
He, with Deputy Coroner Giles, went
to the scene of the tragedy and removed
the body to the morgue. There was
nothing about the place where the body
lay TO Indicate a struggle. In the dead
mans pockets were found two letters
addressed to flames l. Reed, No. IL
Meyers Court, Philadelphia, two papers
authorizing Lieutenant q. l.. vii.
kins OF the Twentieth police dis
trict, Philadelphia. to collect mouey
due him from the city for services, and
police clothing, ascsrd from Lodge No
| zoos, /. o. o. +. Of Philadelphia Other
articles found were small note book. a
box of ~. calibre cartridges, key, a pen
knife and pocket book containing 50
cents. In the note book was this entry
under date OF February IS: "Was dis
charged to await further orders
An inquest was held upon the body yes
terdsy afternoon. After hearing the evil
deDce the jury rendered a verdict Of
death from a gunshot wound inflicted by
his own hand Frank Reed, the brother
Of the dead man, and Undertaken tewart
Of Philadelphia, took the body there on
the 4.32 train yesterday afternoon.
Reed was dismissed from the police
force last Wednesday, charged with in
sUlting two young Indian girls from the
Lincoln institution He appeared to take
his dismisssl much at heart, and left
home on Thursday, taking his revolver
! with him. He borrowed a dollar from his
brother Frank, and it is supposed that be
walked to Wilmington
Frank Reed, the brother of the suicide,
testified that several days ago James told
| him that he had intended to shoot him
self, and had put his pistol to his head to
do so, but he lost heart when he felt the
cold muzzle, and did not pull the trigger.
1t is said that when Reed first went on
the police force he did not drink a drop,
but finally yielded TO the temptations
among which he was thrown. His
brother officers attribute his downfall "a
liquor.
Reed is the third suicide among police
men In tue Twentieth district In July,
$780, House Sergeant Henry Thompson
died from dose of laudanum. leaving
note saying that domestic troubles drove
MIN to the act. Gu january s, 1891
special Policeman Andrew Rslston shot
himself because he had been reduced L
the ranks.
When the Indian girls. Nettie Hansel
and Elite Tyndall. learned that ReeC
had killed himself they were completely
Frustrated, and they remained in
feeble condition all day They declared
that they alone we're to blame for biz
demise and loudly lsmented their actor
accomplishing of his uncivil treatment
Mrs j Bellsngee Cox, one of the direct
ors Of the institution, sent letters OF con
dolenee and offers Of assistance from her
self and pupils