Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-25
PREFERRED DeATr TO DiseRAo



James L. Reed, an ex-police officer of
the Twentieth police district Of Pbila-
delphia committed suicide on Saturday
morning by shooting himself through
the right temple. The spot chosen for
the deed was on the banks of lower Mill
Creek, about 800 yards from Richard
The shooting is supposed to have taken
place about 6 o'clock on Saturday
morning.
The tragedy was not discovered until
between and 2 o'clock on Saturday
afternoon. William Lockerman, an old
negro revealed the tragedy He was
"musk-ratting," ag he called it, and
came across the body lying about 10
| Albert Lewis of his discovery as the
latter was returning from market.
Lewis sent word to the coroner.
Coroner Sparks and Deputy Coroner
| Giles were soon upon the scene and
roundings. The body lay fiat on its
back, the hands resting carelessly at the
sides. A bullet hole was visible at the
right temple and there was evidence of
extravasation of blood which had caused
discoloration about the wound. The
man bad apparently been dead several
hours. An effort was made to find the
pistol which inflicted the fatal wound,
but without avail There was a pool of
blood under the mans head and por-
ton Of the brain had oozed out of the
wound in the temple. The ball passed
clear through the brain. Indications
pointed to case of deliberate suicide.
| hactv ayntni nfiOn xpne mazda of tb n
mans pockets. They revealed box of
80 calibre cartridges and letters indicat-
ing that his name was James Il. Reed
No. IA Meyers court, Philadelphia, and
that he had been q policeman on the
Twentieth district until discharged.
There were also found upon his person
credentials showing that deceased was a
member OF Lodge No. 1908, |. o. o. f.,
of Philadelphia, and purse containing
80 cents in money.
State Detectives McVey and Witsil
set about at once to solve the mystery
and establish the identity of the suicide
beyond doubt. Accordingly they did
so in company with Deputy Coroner
Giles, by going to Philadelphia, where
they found the relatives of Reed. Frank
Reed, brother, was shocked when he
heard of the suicide. He admitted,
however, that it was not altogether un-
expected to him. He said his brother
had left home at Friday noon. He had
stated before that he had felt the cold
barrel of pistol at his forehead before,
but that he never before had the courage
to pull the trigger.
Reed was machinist by trade, but
subsequently was appointed to a posi-
| tion on tho f1olipa fnroa and xuoo on
duty on the Twentieth police district
About six weeks ago he was an appli-
cant for position on the reserve force
He lacked few inches of being six
feet in height, and ON his failure to pass
the examinations, it is said, he was
turned down and forced to take a posi-.
ton as patrolman on the Twentieth dis.
tr;ct. Prior to that time Frank Reed
declares that his brother was strictly
temperate. On his failure to secure the
position as reserve, he took TO drink, il
is said, and has imbibed freely ever since
; On Sunday evening a week ago Reed
was still intoxicated, it is said, when il
is claimed that he insulted Nettie
Hansel and Elite Tyndall, two Indian
girls in Philadelphia on their way to
;. church. He was charged before the
d police board of inquiry with conduct
unbecoming an officer and discharged
Since then he became more Respondent
than ever, and it is thought remorse
drove him to suicide. He was 25 years
old and single.
An. inquest was held upon the re.
\. mains Sunday afternoon by Coroner
Sparks and verdict that the deceased
came to his death by gunshot wound
inflicted by his own hand was reached
J. His brother, Frank Reed, and Officers
Miller and Ley Of Philadelphia attended
the inquest. The remains were taken
to Philadelphia Sunday afternoon
where burial will take place.