Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-14
MAI. woRRELL's SUICIDE.
He shoots Himself on the Steps nj sA>
Treasury Building.


Maj. Benjamin F. worreI is dead. ais
sad end came Saturday night, when he
went to the west front OF the treasury. be-
meath one Of the large electric lights, ana
pulled the trigger OF a weapon that brought
sorrow to a happy family and a large circle
Of friends. Maj. Worrell was a well-known
citizen and had many friends In Grand
Army circles. being a member OF John A.
Rawlns Post at the time of his death For
seventeen years he had been a faithful ana
efficient clerk in the Treasury Department.
He had served in the registers office under
Gen. Rosecrans, who was one of his most
intlmate friends. and was afterward made
chief of the division OF bonds and files. Be-
ing a resident Of New Jersey at the break
ing out of the war, he enlisted IN the first
New Jersey infantry. and served his coun-
for field duty.
Last January he was removed from his
position in the Treasury Department ana
this. together with the loss OF a daughter
through an accident several years ago.
preyed upon his mind and made him de-
spondent at times. Recently il is said, he
inquired in financial enterprise Of some
kind by which he lost money.
His Previous Movements.
When he was leaving home Saturday
morning he told his wife not to wait dinner
for him. as he would probably go down the
caused no alarm. He did not go down the
river. however. but remained in the city.
and. early in the evening. he was at the
RIGGS House with a number of friends
While there he was not in a happy frame
of mind. and his friends noticed that there
was something strange In his actions. So
Inherent did he appear from his usual man.
ner that one of his friends mentions the
fact after he had left them. 1t was then
nearly 10 O'Clock, and many persons we're
m nQx-lnro a
and 18th street. and in order TO get out of
the crowd and in a secluded spot he walked
to the west front of the treasury and sat
down on the lower step. No one was there
to see him, and in that lonely spot on the
steps that he had so often walked he ended
his life. the bullet entering the left chest
In the region of the heart
Maj. Moore, who was a personal friend
OF the deceased. was in the White House
grounds at the time. and. hearing the shot
he hurried across to the steps. where he
discovered the form Of the dying man.
Goodbye 10 Mai. Moore.
The latter recognized him. and in his
former familiar way said: It's all over,
Billy. Goodbye"
Maj. Moore responded in the same way
and then assisted the dying man to q cab
ard had him taken to the Emergency Hos
pital, but he died soon after reaching there.
The suicide left no letter telling why he
committed the deed. but IL is thought
~
matters and grieving for the lost child. was
the cause
Undertaken Speare prepared the body for
burial, and Coroner Woodward gave the
necessary death certificate.
The funeral of the deceased will take
place tomorrow at 430 pm. from his late
residence, No. 1000 F street northwest. The
body will be buried in Arlington National
cemetery. The G. A r. will probably have
charge Of the services
Mr.. Halls story.
Mr.. J. P. Hail. auctioneer. with Walter
b. Williams. tells a peculiar story in con-
nection with the suicide. Mr.. Hall was
standing at the corner Of 10th street ana
the avenue at $50 Saturday evening. A
stranger came along and greeted him He
told the newcomer that although ne OHaD
knew his face. he could not call his name
The stranger explained that his name was
Worrell. and that years ago he had bought
some goods from the auctiQneer. The two
chatted in small talk for some time and
shaking hands though he meant IL.
why. you are not going away. are you?"
said Mr.. Hall. Yes" was the answer Il
am going over to the other side. I'm just
going up here to shoot myself" He said
this in sort of a smiling way. which did
not indicate that he was very serious. He
was cool, did not appear 10 be excited. and
evidently had not been drinking Mr.. Hall
advised him not TO do anything rash. that
he had better bear those ills he had than
fly to others that he knew not Of To
which he responded that there was a better
place than this and that he wanted to shake
the dust Of Washington of his feet. Mr..
Hall was not clear In his mind as to wheth-
er the stranger was merely Jesting or was
of. and when he moved away told him
farewell and wished him luck. Worren
returned this parting with the words.
when you hear OF me again i won't be