The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-28
FLED FROM TROUBLE.
Capt De Lions Deep Despon-
dency Ends i'm Suicide.
ne SHOOTS HIMSELF IN BED.
- News From His Dry Deck caus..
Year Of Povsrty-sad Fad OF an
Able. Enerxetie Man.

Tarona. ex-rnayo- OF Port Townsend =.
enc time an important factor in Jefferson
euunfy politics and promoter and builder
Of The largest floating dry dock in the
World located At Qaartermasser hsrbor
scsk Dis own life yesterday in this CITY bv
shooting himself in the head The deed
VS. done while he was suffering from If
Of seuporary insanity consequent upon
financial difficulties and n disordered
physical condition.
since Capt. De Lion vas acquitted OF q
charge OF insanity after sec sationaI jury
tfsss before Judge Bailinger In Port
Townsend. ne has lived with his family In
sbis city at 1905 Joy street. He exhibited
J no signs OF insanity until last Monday
when be again became violent and. In an
snconiroliabie TT of anger. failed to rec
cxrszs the members of his Own family
sad threatened 20 kill his wife and chill
drsn. Friday he Was In Tacoma and In
company with his son-iu-Iar r.. q
Robertson, assistant United States dis
frict attorney. attended meeting
Of the DE Lion dry dock stock
holders. He Was much disap-
pointed concerning the report of the
managers Of the dock. and worried a good
deal over MS finances. liz in reported that
be has property interests worth So. ZOO.
nth Liabilities axgregating s72.0o0. He
rnained IN Tacoma Friday night at the
home oil MS son-in-av. and returned 10
Seattle the following day, but continued
10 brood over his business affairs. On
Monday he became violent. and said that
he had notion tn kill his whole family.
that they had better die now and alto
J ssther, because they would soon starve 10
] death anyway. He was, however, induced
mot 10 carry his threat into execution. He
/ did not arise early yesterday morning. ow-
Ing to indlsposition, and Mrs. De Lion took
his breakfast to his bedside. He seemed
quite affectionate and rational, giving no
evidence of his intention TO precipitate n
tragedy. Noticing that he vas not eating
much. Mrs. DE Lion asked him If he
would have another cup of coffee. but he
replied:
NO, my dear. don't care for any
more"
/ He Immediately thereafter requested hi.
wife to leave the room and close the door.
Mrs. De Lion went out. but did not close
: the door, leaving 1t open about foot A
few moments later one of his little daugh-
fsrs entered the room TO inquire concern
Ing her fathers health. He sent the little
giri out also. and told her to close the
door, which she did. Mrs De Lion
noticed the door was closed and questioned
the child concern ing il, and the little one
replied:
Papa told me to shut the door and 70
away"
While the child Was talking, the sharp
report of a revolver rang through the
house. and Mrs DE Lion rushed to her
husbands room. She found him still in
bed. smoking revolver by his side ana
the blood flowing from a wound in his
tight ear. Physicians were hastily sum-
moned. but the wound was pronounced
fatal, and after lingering until 2 SOC o'clock,
Can't. DE Lion died.
In The course of the morning Mr. Rob
ertson arrived in the city from Tacoma,
bent upon keeping the engagement he had
With his father-in-lax las, Friday When
he arrived at the De Lion home on JOY
street be Was Mortified 10 find the captain
In the throes of death and the family
stricken with grief. During the course of
the iay great many of the captains old
freads called aud inquired concerning his
condition. Funeral arrangement have al
ready been perfected. and the interment
vii take place Thursday afternoon in Port
Townsend. the services being conducted
under the auspices of the A. q. L. w. and
Juan de Faca lodge r and a NJ, in both
OF which organizations he was q member
In good standing
Capt. DE Lion vas . remarkable man in
many respects. lie was bright and ener-
Feiic, a man of strong will power and posi-
tive IN his convictions From the time he
Was IL years old he has followed the sea
for living. and white captain of mer-
chant vessels visited nearly every mari
time city Of consequence in the world. In
addition to "A wide and comprehensive
knowledge of scientific Subjects he Was q
hnguist of merit. speaking besides En-
nltsh aud French, the latter icing aix
native tongue. German. Spanish and Ital-
Ian. and having good understanding Of
Latin and tsreek. At one time he vas
very Wealthy and hts home was a pleasant
one until year ago. when his health be-
san 'o break down and his mind give way.
IN several occasions he threatened TO bill
n wife and children and accused
Ms. De Lion Of inideIity. But in
MS rational moments he would brood
ever his harsh ways, retraet his
shassrs and In plore forgiveness. IL was
hhatsy decided by Mrs. DE Lion and her
son-sn-tas, Mr.. Robertson that the only
Say 70 avert tragedy would be TO have
the captain locked ~ where he could
undergo system Of medical treatment
II sas believed that. If he we're placed
Under restraint FOR five or SIX months and
forced 10 submit ~ treatment. his phys
ca condition Mould ~ improved and with
'ae return 81 health his mind would be
restored To this end last November
'apL be Lion sas arrested, charged with
eTinE insane. and Judge Rs.iinger VAS
pehuonei - commit him % the tasaaa
AsytuW. The captain declared that the
ssaeaae was ere 70 rob him Of his property
and he demanded jury trial. The
Ease lasfee a week. and Will be reIneEtl-
AeFvft IS one o. the most sensational IN The
Asstofy 81 fuset SQUAD In court the cap
s~.a gave no evidence of a. unsound talnd.
Ae ttksd "a = hyi4.lsut manner and his in
,es.eei was apparently re SQUAD a. dol
a. Ar>- he Lion tod plan. unyaTa-
sasd story IN = plssnGlse voice :hat
sfe2Ess tears 20 every eve IA the court
s'oSn Aat she the object Of much
stnps,hy. she cited various painful in
At@ates IS Ee- husbands actions. Ensiud-
'as 6ae several occasions on which he bal
sssAasse1 ae- and threatened % take hit
t--es an shat ~ kls whole family. I be
eSpts1 t~alet the Whole story. ard Ehe
}9yf brought In verdict ot acqeli;ai- 10
: hoS generally conceded that had Capt,
II Lsaa been !ockei ap tae present
S>gvtF -au-d have been Svertei, and he
Aoa-1 h@ye .ssesi "a again become useful
1essaeE 81: society.