Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-31

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formerly of Lersburg, but who for The
p,st eight or nine years had resided in
this CITY, was drowned in the dock at
the loot of Prince street last night.
The deceased had been drinking heavily
during the day, and about zine o'clock
at night was seen staggering down King
street in the direction of the river.
Shortly before ten o'clock Messrs.
Samuel Lindsey and James Graham
and colored man, who were on the
Norfolk steamers wharfawaiting thea
rival of the steamer Charles Manchester,
saw the deceased sitting on some lum
BIER at the end of the pier in a wet and
bedraggled condition and when APP
preached he said he had been overheard
for a swim, but had gotten out of the
water by Shining pile MIR. Lind
say and Mr.. Graham subsequently, took
a seat on the wharf log at the north
end OF the pier, when Mr.. Hammerley
arose from the lumber on which he had
been sitting on the south end and either
fell or jumped overheard. Neither of
:he witnesses knew whether he could
swim nor could either divine his pur
pose. He soon came to the surface but
sank Immediately. When he came up
again he was midway between the new
and old wharves and in few seconds
time went down for the last time. An
alarm was given and later his body was
caught and made fast to the wharf by
Mr.. Albert Fisher and subsequently
convened to Mr.. Demaine's undertake
inc establishment. A colored man, 1T
is said, helped Mr.. Hammerly out Of
the water the first time he got over
board. He is reported to have seen
the deceased walking on the pier at its
western end, and saw him fall, or make
misstep, and go overheard. The
water was shallow, however, aud he
yvAs soon assisted to the wharf. 1t was
after this that he went overheard
from the east end into the chau-
mel with the fatal result describ
ed above. DR.. Purvis, Coroner,
held au inquest over the remains thi,
morning and the jury Composed of MIR.
Geo. Appich, foreman, and Messrs. Il l.
gar Warfeld, jr., ID. w. Whiting, 7. j.
Downey, Harrie Yohe and VIM. Web
ster) returned verdict to the effect
that the deceased committed suicide. As
has been stated, Mr.. Hammerly came
here from Leesburg between eight and
nine wears ago. He had been pros
porous butcher in the latter place and
was in comfortable circumstances. He
engaged in the same business here, put
was not successful, and in few years
ne found himself poor man. About
this time his domestic affairs were any
thing else than felicitious, and after
numerous family troubles separation
between him and his wife followed.
He later became private Waterman in
this city, and was employed by num-
Der of merchants on King street to
watch their stores at night. He also
opened small shop on Prince street
where he repaired umbrellas, sharpen
cd cutlery and performed other ocd
Jobs during the day. A month or so
ago his wife obtained an absolute di-
yorce from him, since which time he
had lived at his shop with his two boys.
He often undertook to drown his trou-
bes with stimulants, and while under
their effects acted in an irresponsible
manner, so much so that his conduct
was the cause of him becoming involved
i'll broils. He had often intimated that
he would take his own life, and last
night previous to drowning had told al
acquaintance he would probably net see
him again. Mr.. Hammerly served
faithfully in the Southern army during
the war, and was member of Lee
Camp, Confederate Veterans. A de-
tail from the camp will accompany the
remains from Mr.. Demaine's undertake
ing establishment to the $40 train to-
morrow morning for Leesburg where
the interment will take place. Mr..
Hammerly's divorced wife and his son
came here to day with the intention of
taking charge of his effects, but Mayor
Strauss forbade such procedure and had
the house locked up until the court
shall appoint an administrator.