Evening journal., 1894-02-15
SUICIDE BY LAUDANUM
Frank Griffith Coates Drinks
the Drug on a Train.
he DIED AT THE CITY HALL
In Memorandum Book the Deceased
Said He Inherited Misfortune and to
Escape It He Ended His Life-supposed
TO BE Native of Sussex County.

Escape Il He Ended His Life-suppOsed
tOBe Native of Sussex County.
Just before P, w. 4 B train No. 17s
due in this city at 3d. arrived this
morning, Conductor Cohees noticed a
young man in seat apparently drunk.
Mr. Cohees tried to rouse him, but he
could not. When the train stopped the
man was taken of and transferred to
the police station.
Arriving ut the latter place, n bottle
containing few drops of laudanum was
found on his clothing. IL waA evident
that he had taken dose of the drug aud
DR.. Hughes was sent for. The latter
worked on the patient for an hour, but
in vain. He died about 4 o'clock.
The body was removed to the morgue
by. Deputy Coroner Palmer The de-
ceased was dressed in a mixed mouse
colored cutsway suit, black derby hat,
No. 81, white shirt, lsundered cuffs with
buttons containing stone sets, blue neck
tie with red spots. a light silk banker
chief with the initial &c" worked on IL,
and standing collar. In the clothing
was found pocket-book containing So,
a gold plated watch and chain, soiled
handkerchief, a pair of kid gloves, two
combs, a pair of gold spectacles bought
Of "H. n. Bottle, Atlantic City, n. -" a
memorandum book and several letters.
The deceased was about % years old, ,
weighs l70 pounds, light hair. sandy
mustsche, about feet 10 inches in
height.
From the letters found in his posses
sion his name is Frank Griffith Coates
and it is supposed he belongs either in
Philadelphia OF Atlantic City. letter
dated February II, on note head of the
"Willard's Hotel, Washington. was ad-
dressed TO companion "Stinson. "
Another is to Bertha, presumably his
sweetheart. and is dated Washington,
February l3. There are no envelopes for
either Of these letters. In them he speaks
OF Joseph Il Marvel An envelope found
on him is addressed to "Josepb II. Mar
vel, Atlantic City, N. J.. A letter was
also found from Charles Il Richards,
attorney-st-lsw at Georgetown, Del
dated August IS, 1893 referring to q
financial difficulty. There were also two
receipts for board which was obtained at
the Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia.
The only writing in the memorandum
was the following, which occupied three
pages;
This is my last writing, and il is to
whom it may concern.
Il had a cause to leave my home when
1 was Is years old, and since that time
have led a varied life have had many
ups and downs Though IL all hav,
been, so far as / know, honest.
Il have been condemned for many
things which / have done, but those wh,
condemned me did not understand ny
position.
81 have not always acted with discre-
tion but could not ! am laboring undei
a disease Inherited from my forefatherl
and so far as l can tnd out il has always
been their misfortune
81 can not help doing what l have
done no more though l could help this
lie which was given me.
But few can understand it / found
q doctor in Philadelphia some nights pas
who does know that it is a disease anC
not a fault
If people would work from friendl,
feeling and not for self-promotion thl
world would be better.
II know one man, who, IL he win stol
and look backward over my relatives
past lives, that it is q disesse-he know
them and me-
MY God, IL hsd no more TO contenr
with than he, this life would be a para
disc, but as it is it is hell snd l mus
stop it 80 Here Goes" It is swallowed
Good Bye +. & COATES D"
The last page has the appearance o
having been written on the train.
1t is evident that Coates Is native @
Sussex county owing to his familiarit
with the prominent persons of tina
county mentioned.