Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-26
A War Department Clerk Commits
Suicide.
PREFERRED DEATH TO MARRIAGE
Disappeared From Washington on
the Eve of His Wedding.
4 TALE OF TWO CITIES


tell. an attache of the War Department,
Washington, D. c., shot and kill ed himself
in his room at the Hotel Wiley in this city
about o'clock this morning. A note to
the proprietor said nc body would claim his
remains. The only other writing found on
the body was a scrap Of paper on which
was written in feminine hand: Il hereby
promise that I will never ask you to take
me, anywhere. (SigneO o. A. WYLIE."
An express money order receipt for SlCo,
the order being payable to G. w. Kittell, at
Baritone, Fla. furnished the only definite
clew to the whereabouts of the suicides
friends. Kittell was about thirty years OF
i.ge and well dressed.
disappointed His Sweetheart.
William W. kittell was well known IN
this city, and the news of his self-destruc-
ton, flashed over the wires this morning,
was the first knowledge of his whereabouts
his friends have had since last week. The
suicide is especially interesting, as it fol-
lows close upon Kittells failure to put in
an appearance at proposed marriage
ceremony Saturday, where he was 10 De
the groom, although the expectant bride
was in readiness.
Kittell was twenty-four years of age and
was born in Illinois. He came to this city
in 1891 from his home at Loup City, Sher-
man county, Neb, where he had been
teacher in the public schools. After taking
the civil service examination and making
an unusually high percentage he received
an appointment June 6, 1881, to Sl.ooo
clerkship in the record and pension office,
War Department, and was promoted May
II, 1893, to 81, 200. .
Soon after reaching Washington, ktttell,
in company with Mr.. Charles Gray, clerk
in the patent office, rented room at 32o
E street northwest, where he lived for two
wears. At the expiration of that time they
removed to 2019 Brightwood avenue and a
few months ago again removed TINS time
to 1919 Sth street northwest, where the
deceased Was living up to Friday night last.
The Courtshfp.
1t seems that while residing on Bright
wood avenue Kittell became infatuated
with Miss Olive Wylie, daughter of Mr..
William H. Wylie, the proprietor of the
MARYLAND House, 2019 Brightwood avenue.
After a rather unsentimental courtship it
was announced that Kittell and Miss Wylie
were to be married. and Saturday morning
last vas fixed as the date The failure of
the groom to appear resulted in call at
the War Department by relative of the
young lady and then 1t was learned that
Thursday last Kittell was granted leave of
absence for one week and had not been
seen at the department since that AFTER
noon.
1t was arranged that the marriage should
take place in Baltimore Saturday morning,
the young man having desired this because,
as he said, he did not want his fellow
clerks to knew of his marriage until after
the event had taken place. Friday evening
he was to have sent his trunk to the house
of lis prospective BRIDE but failed to do
so, and this gave the young lady and her
parents an idea that he might possibly not
be en- hand, and his failure to put in an
appearance Saturday morning was no sur
rrise to them. So certain were they that
he would not appear that Miss Wylie did
11f1 I,o~
she entirely ready at the time appointed.
Changed His Mind.
Kittell changed his mind late Friday
evening, for he had called at the house Of
the lady during tine day and had gone to
his room and packed his trunk.
When his room mate, Gray, returned
home he saw Kittell standing at the front
window crying as If his heart would break,
and, fastening to the room, he inquired of
the young Nebraskan what was the matter.
The latter pointed to his valise on the
floor and then looked at his wedding suit
that was hanging in the room and, turn
ing to Gray, he said, I'm going away"
He had a pistol in his possession and.
fearing he would do himself injury with
During the evening Kittell disappeared.
The first news Mr.. Gray received of the
death of his chum was from Star re-
porter this afternoon. He was visibly af-
'Kittell was in trouble" said Mr.. Gray.
"Somc one had threatened to shoot him
and he was afraid the threat would be
consummated. I did not know where he
was, and had no idea he would really kill
himself, although 1 took the pistol from
him Friday. l cashed check for him
this morning"
Mr.. Gray declined to give the details Of
FittelTs troubles or the name of the young
lady he intended to marry. but volun-
teered, as his opinion, that the deceased
was unbalanced in mind.
Looked Older.
Nttell had always given his age as
twenty-four, although he had the appear
ance of being much older, and some of his
most intimate friends here have an idea
that he had celebrated his fortieth birth
day. Although SO well alongsin years, he
was extremely bashful. and never seemed
at ease when in company, especially that
of ladies'. A number of persons who knew
him and were well acquainted with him
speak of his peculiar conduct ht times, AMI
many of them refer to him as crank He
was a sober and industrious man, and re-
Gently he seemed to imagine that he was
going to lose his position in the depart
ment. Being under this impression, he has
remained in his room during the evenings.
and studied constantly, with an idea of
taking an examination under the civil ser
vice commission when his employment
ceased. This confinement and worry, 1t is
thought, aQueQ 10 his lTOuDieS anu SiuSSo
him to end them with pistol.
The fellow employees of kittell state that
he was a quiet. industrious young man,
and the parties at whose houses he has
lived say he was of a studious disposition
and rarely, if ever, spoke to any one un-
less first addressed. He vas member OF
the Pension Office Base Ball Club of the
Departmental League last season, earning
a favorable reputation as pitcher cnd all
round player.
age. She took the course at the Washing
ten High School and intended to enter the
Normal School, but did not carry out the
plan. She is a daughter of Mr.. William H.
Wylie, who is well known in Washington,
having been a large contractor, then a
butcher, later a storekeeper. and nf late
has been conducting the Maryland House.
Not at All Distressed.
It is understood that the relatives of the
Young lady are not at all distressed over
the failure of the proposed union to occur,
a friend of the family stating this after
noon that he was glad matters turned out
as they did.
Mai. Moore received from Coroner Dowell
at Pittsburg the following:
"W. w. Kittell, War Department, COM
mitted suicide this morning. Body in my
charge. Locate friends and a1vise."
Detective Boardman was given the dis