Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06
KINSEYBREWE END
Fires a Shot Through His Temple
This Morning.
PECULIAR FEATURES OF SADNESS
The Wife Lay Dying Upstairs at
the Time.
AN EX POLL G e NJ A n

Today about noon Kinsey Brewer, an
ex-poiceman. committed suicide in front.
of the house of his sister-in-law, Miss j.
F. Smith, at No. 1889 9th street northwest,
by sending a bullet into his head from
cheap pistol that he had borrowed some
days ago under the pretense of wanting to
celebrate the Fourth of July with it. Kin
sey Brewer was we'll known here of late
years an expert cutter of ladies' dresses
and coats. His wife was in business for
number of years on Massachusetts avenue
near 9Th street. and later at the corner Of
9th and NJ streets. She conducted large
dressmaking establishment and her hus-
band did the cutting
Not many months ago his wife got sick,
and after being under treatment for some
time 1t was discovered that she was suffer-
ing from cancer of the stomach Her con-
dition became SO serious that she was sent
to the hospital, where an operation was
performed. While the operation was sue
cessful and Mrs. Brewer recovered from
the shcck, she never got well, and now she
Is at the house of her sister dying.
kinssy Brewer was never a total absti-
nence man, but his wife's condition drove
him to drinking to excess, and several
times he has threatened to end his life.
During the past month he has made sew
eral attempts, so it is said. at one time
swallowing two ounces of laudanum
But from the effects of this poison he re-
covered. He did not stop drinking, how
ever. and continued to patronize drinking
saloons Until a short time before he used
the pistol 50 effectively.
He had not lived at the house of his sis
ter-in-law, where his wife was under the
Doctors care, tut had rented room at
the house of Mrs. Widman. two doors
away. Becauee of his Incorporate habits
Mrs Wildman had endeavored to get rid
of him, and he had promised to seek quar-
ters elsewhere.
The Fatal Shot.
Filled with whisky or Some other intoxi-
cant the man, who was almost crazed from
the sad combination of grief and whisky,
left his room in Mrs. Wildman's house
stcrty after IL o'clock. and went to the
house OF his sister-in-law to see his wife.
He had been there before, and had never
been refused adnlittance when he was not
intoxicated. Walking to the front door Of
the house he rang the bell and then stag
gered into the vestibule Hardly. had he
been there a minute, certainly not long
enough for his call to have been answered,
when ne took from his pocket the cheap
pistol he had borrowed from Locksmlth
Henry Neubeck around the corner on NJ
street and fired the fatal shot.
He pointed the muzzle of the weapon to-
ward his left temple and then pressed it
against the skin before pulling the trigger.
The bullet struck vital spot, and the
lifeless body of the man went headlong
to the brown-stone steps in front. Per-
sors passing along 9th street. as well as
those in the, house. heard the report of
the pistol. and a large crowd of curious
persons soon congregated on the sidewalk
In front of the house, all eager to get
glimpse of the corpse.
The Dying Wife.
Inside the house the dying woman heard
the noise. She knew her husband had
caused the trouble but just what had hap
pened she did not know. She had not heard
the report of the pistol, and to ease her
mind she was told that her husband was
only drinking and the police had taken him
away.
1t was true that the police had taken him
away, and he would never again return to
her bedside. but this sad news will be kept
from her
The lifeless body was taken in the patrol
wagon, and for fear there might be one
spark of life left the police stopped at
drug store and had the body examined.
The doctor found that life was not only
extinct, but that death was instantaneous,
the victim never realizing anything after
he pulled the trigger The body was re-
moved to the morgue and the coroner was
notified of the affair.
When the crowd had dispersed the blood
stains were washed away from the step
and all signs of the tragedy on the front
doorstep were obliterated.
The Dead Man.
1t was two weeks ago when the suicide
borrowed the pistol from the locksmith.
The weapon was a small 32-caliber pistol
and did not make loud report. 1t is said
that the locksmith has been endeavorng to
have him return the weapon for some days,
being afraid he wanted to use it for pur-
poses other than the celebration of the
Fourth of July.
The deceased was about fifty-fve years
old and was well known. He severed his
connection with the police force nearly
twenty years ago. When member OF the
force he made many friends, and has kept
up his police acquaint tance since he resign
ed his position. He was the officer with
whom Inspector Hollinberger did duty and
the inspector expressed sorrow for the un-
fortunate man when he heard of his sad
ending.
The deceased's father, who is more than
eighty years old, lives in Tenleytow4 with
one of his sons. kinsey Brewer was
member of the Masonic order, and was
connected with other secret societies, the
members of which will probably have
charge Of his funeral arrangements.
Coroner Hanmett will view the body this
afternoon, and will, in all probability, give
a certificate of suicidal death, without
holding an inquest.