Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-29
Frederick Cushman's Body Found on
the Sidewalk.
HE MAY HAVE JUMPED TO His DEATH
Another Theory That He Fell From
the Window While Asleep.
NO INQUEST TO BE HELD

character to have been carried out by
person in his sober senses, but yet which
is surrounded by circumstances that point
very strongly to suicide. occurred about
$50 o'clock this morning at 7oS 10th street
northwest. and resulted in the death CT
Frederick Fl. Cushman, well known in this
city steward of the Richmond, the Co.
lumb.a Athletic Club, the Down Town Club
and for the past month of the Elsmere
Found on the Pavement.
A colored man passing along 1Gth street
at o'clock am. discovered the PROSTATE
form on the pavement in front of the house
mentioned. The structure is a bow window
brick, three stories in height, with cellar,
with a small parking in front ncosed by
an iron railing. The body was lying in the
gateway. The colored man was startled
over the incident and hastened down the
street in search of aid He met Mr.. Martin
Cronin, ana together they returned to the
body. A bright light Was burning in
room in the third story of house 7os. di-
Iectly over the front door. Successive
rings of the door bell aroused the land
lady, Mrs. Mary W. DeMaine, who was
asked regarding the occupant of the third
landlady identified the PROSTATE form
one of her rooners, Frederick H. Cush-
man. Dr. Phebe r. Norris resides in the
house, and was hastily aroused. The doc
tor, upon examination found that Cusil-
man was dead. his head being mashed al
most to jelly, with the brain oozing out.
and upon the arrival of a policeman
patrol wagon was summoned and the body
removed to the morgle.
Preceding Circumstances.
Cushman, stated, occupied a small
hall room on the upper floor of the house.
According to Mrs. De Maine. he returned
home about II o'clock last evening and
went at once to his room. Nothing more
was heard of him until the body was
found although Mrs De Maine and
eral others in the house were aroused about
$50 o'clock by a heavy fail or sound,
which they thought for an instant the
rumble of an earthquake. This was
doubtedly caused by Cushman, who when
he jumped or accidentally fell from the
window of his room struck the iron stair
way leading to the front door with terrific
force landing on his head and rebounding
to the sidewalk. An examination of his
room by the policeman, who was the first
to enter, showed that the gas was burning
brightly the bed undisturbed, the room in
perfect order with the exception that the
water pitcher upset and the contents
spilled over the carpet. Cushman had re-
moved his coat ard il lying the
bed There was found in the room note
addressed to Mr. George T. Stoner, ami
also four empty whisky bottles.
Unhappy Married Life.
Cushman was a married man. but the
fact that he had not been living with his
wife for some time, and that she, Septen-
ber % last. filed suit for divorce, makes the
story of his death of more than passing in
terest The deceased was a native of Con-
necticut. and was steward of the United
States Hotel in Hartford for sixteen years.
About eleven years ago he to this
city and married Miss Anne 7. SafeIl,
daughter of Charles H. Saffel formerly of
the metropolitan police force. but at pres
ent Waterman at the Washington Loan
and Trust Company building. They have
child. boy named Fred. ten years of
age Soon after his marriage Cushman was
steward of Barnum's Hotel, in Baltimore,
and remained here for four years. He re-
turned to Hartford hut again came to
Washington to accept a position at the
Richmond Ill the fall of 1893 he entered
the employ of the Down Town Club, and
was with that organiZat ton until a few
months ago After being out of work sew
eral weeks he was engaged by the rroplie
tor of the Elsmere Il month ago
With his wife and child. Cushman
living at 941 H street northwest, but left
there about six months ago and engaged
quarters at 92i X street northwest. The
separation occurred soon thereafter and
Cushman left the city. He returned six
weeks ago and gagged the room at 7GS 10Th
street, where he had resided with his wife
and child about two years ago.
Said to Have Been Hard Drinker.
1t is said that Cushman and his wife
lived very unhapply. and during the past
seven years had separated repeatedly. 1t
is claimed by friends of the wife that Mr..
Cushman a hard drinker, and that
when intoxicated he was extremely violent
and cruel. Unable to stand his treatment
longer, according to the story, Mrs. Cusn-
man. September - last through Attorney
E. b. Hay, filed suit for divorce. Papers
were withheld from publication but it is
known that the only charge made was de-
sertion.
The friends of the dead man, however,
maintain that he was not hard drinker,
and was as upright a person as could be
found anywhere. He had met his wife fire.
quently of late. and a reconciliation was
about to he effected Mrs. Cushman. few
weeks ago. consented to give her husband
a trial on thirty days probation. with a
view of again living with him. He called
to see her last evening at; at 92t *. * street
pearing like his old self.
He had been drinking, however. Before
leaving the house he made an appointment
to meet his little boy after school today
and go with hin; to purchase shoes. 1t was
10 o'clock when he left the presence of his
wife. and an hour later. in an Intoxicated
condition. he entered his room in the house
on 10th street
The Suicide Theory.
The fact that Cushman was not entirely
sober when with his wife lends weight to
the suicide theory, it being thought that
he became downcast over the fact that he
seen in such condition while on pro-
baton. and thea determined to end his life.
Intimate friends of the deceased, however,
declare that he was not the sort of man
to take his own life. although he had gone
through considerable trouble. The note.
found in the room addressed to Mr. Stoncr
without date. and of a private
nature, not the slightest alusion to suicide
being contained therein. Nr Cushman was
close friend of Mr.. steiner. ard called at
Saks' store late yesterday afternoon to see
the latter, apparently in the best OF spirits.
According to Mr.. Stoner, the deceased did
not drink to any extent, and had never
been seen intoxicated BY him.
If Cushman did not commit suicide the
theory is that he entered his room. re-
moved his coat. and took Il seat on the win
dow sill. There he fell asleep, and after
s!ulnberng for several hours, toppled out
OF the window.
No Inquest Necessary.
Mrs. Cushnan was Frustrated vita grief
upon being informed of the sad affair
Coroner Hdmmett decided that an inquest
was unnecessary, and the body was taken
In charge by Undertaken Speare. The
funeral VIII be strictly private, and serv-
ICES VIII be held tomorrow afternoon at