Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
An Unknown Man Kills Himself in
the Capitol Grounds.
HOURS ELAPNE BEFORE DISCOVERY
The Deed the Result OF Deliberate
Intention.
MORE POLICEMEN NEEDED

the northwestern portion Of the Capitol
grounds early this morning by Mr.. w. G.
Wilkinson. an employe in the Capitol build
ing. The corpse was cold. but its lack of
rfgidity showed that death had come but
q few hours previously. A nearly new 81
caliber revolver, with one exploded and four
loaded chambers, was lying upon the grass
about five feet behind the body. which was
prone upon its face, with the right hand
tightly clenched- 1t was plainly case OF
suicide Mr.. Wilkinson at first thought the
man was drunk. and. approaching him.
shook his arm and told him to get up. A
closer examination Mortified him with the
discovery that he had been addressing a
corpse. The police authorities were notified.
and the dead man was removed to- the
morgue at the sixth precinct police station
Shot Through the Heart.
There 1t was discovered that death re-
suited from a pistol shot in the left breast,
the ball entering about one and a half
inches below the nipple and a little to the
right. Coroner Woodward. who subsequent
ly examined the body. stated that the ball
had entered the heart end that death re-
suited instantaneously. The dead man was
five feet six inches tall. and appeared to
have been about twenty five years OF age,
and about 40 pounds in weight. His face
smoothly shaven and full. and marked
with pimpleS. The half-Shut eyelids dis
closed hazel eyes. and a thick suit of short
sandy hair covered his well-formed head.
His body was well nourished. well de-
veloped. and his hands indicated that they
had known labor.
Description of His Dress
The suicide was clad in a blue serge sack
coat double breasted black vest, BLUSH
gray trousers, with slight black lines, and
q pink outing shirt His underwear was of
gauze. and his feet were clad in a pair Of
long black stockings, Of a cheap texture.
and apparently designed for women.
Around his neck was claSped neat black
tie His .-S hat was eTmparatiyely So,b,gS new
was well worn. and in the coat a right
ample tear had seemingly been but recently
and unskillfully repaired The dead man
also wore a pair of almost new rubber
boots, which reached nearly to his waist.
His trousers were drawn down over them.
and around his waist was a new yellow
leather belt Around his arms was pair
OF metal clamps used by bicycle riders.
In his pocket was found one cent, bunch
of thirteen keys. glove buttoner and a
shoe hook Not card. letter nor any other
scrap of paper was found upon the BODY,
but in one Of the suicides pockets was
found a copy of the Baltimore Evening
News Of yesterdays issue.
Theory of the Authorities.
The police authorities are under the i'm
preston that the unfortunate stranger Is
from Baltimore. Nd, and that he came over
from that city last evening.
Driver Fitzgerald of the sixth precinct
patrol wagon is under the impression, how
ever. that he saw the man standing near
the government printing office about noon
yesterday.
whoever the dead man may be. the police
believe that his act of self-destruction was
a deliberately planned one. and also believe
that he carefully removed every possible
mark OF identification about him, in order
TO render his Identification impossible.
RXamfnR6 Coroner
Woodward. and he declared 1t to be a clear
case Of deliberate suicide. The mans
clothing about the hole made by the bullet
was burned and scorched. and the coroner
said that he had undoubtedly held the re-
volver close to his breast while standing.
and that he fell dead upon his face when he
pulled the trigger. The left hand was
slightly darkened with powder stains, and
the coroner was under the impression that
the pistol had been held in that hand. He
therefore believes that the suicide was left
handed.
BY direction Of the coroner, the body will
be kept at the morgue, New Jersey avenue 4
between D and E streets. for Identification.
Sensation at the Capitol.
The news of the tragedy caused quite a
sensation at the Capitol this morning. for
1t was felt that the suicide or murder.
whichever 1t may be. indicates the abso-
lutely unprotected condition OF the Capitol
grounds. There were several people found
during the morning who said that they
heard a pistol shot at about IL O'Clock last
night sounding from the direction of the
potanlcaI gardens or the Peace monument.
Accounts as to this generally agree as to
the hour, and 1t Is therefore taken for
granted that the deadly shot was fired
sometime before midnight. so that the corpse
Iay on the grass undiscovered for at least
seven hours. 1t is thought that If a suicide
could remain without being found for that
IenStn OF time there is no reason why a
murder could not be committed and remain
"A Z hat rarfnH
giving the murderer a chance to escape
Capitol Grounds Poorly Guarded.
Inc grounds are very poorly policed, ow-E
ing 70 the small size of the Capitol force
The necessity for large force during the
DAY on duty in the building makes IL i'm |
possible for the authorities to place sufn- |
cient men in the grounds at night to afford
any protection whatever, either to the prop
erty OF the government or to the pedestrians
VINO are compelled to pass through the
grounds in hundreds after nightfalI The
roadway and walks passing through the
northwestern section of the grounds from
the Peace monument to the east plaza of
the Capitol IS thorOughfare much fire.
quented at all hours of the day and night |
II IS the shortest way from the avenue TO
Capitol Hin and is much preferred to the
southern roadway. The dense shrubbery In
the grounds, especially right around the
grOtto. affords ample opportunity for rob-
bers or maraCders to lie in wait for their
victims in case an assault were planned |
Last nights event shows how easily this
could happen at any hour after nghtfall
Darkness Reigns Supreme.
Another consideration coming up in this
connection is the tier of lighting There
IS almost illumination OF the grounds
except when the moon shines. and even
then the dark places under the trees and
sh-Ubbery are dense and frequent. Sugges-
uOns have been made from time to time
looking To the more perfect illumination of
the grounds by means Of electric lights,
placed on poles at intervals along these
principal rOadways which traverse the
parks Objection has always been made.
however. to the planting Of poles In the
grounds; these not over beautiful structures
would destroy the beauty Of the landscape.
The question, therefore. mas come TO a de-
cisiOn between the beauty of the landscape
and the safety of human life. A row OF
powerful lights. placed on sufficiently high
poles IN the streets surrounding the park
Xoul1 nhrinta the diGic1tlt,. .iI,r..LI..