The morning times., 1895-08-30
DIED TO ply HIS DEBTS
]. W. Yakey Jumped Into the
River and Left Insurance.
EXPLAINED ALL IN A LETTER
II RccfteS His Indebt edness to Various
Parties and Expresses a Wish That
His Creditors Can All Be Satisfied
Had Often Spoken of Taking His
Life-Body Was Recovered.

John w. Yakey. commission merchant
al 901 Louisiana avenue, committed sui
eide about $50 O'Clock yesterday by
jumping into the Potomac from a row.
boat off the arsenal.
After dragging the river several hours
yesterday afternoon the crow OF the police
steamer, Joe Blackburn, finally brought
to the surface the body and it was removed
to No police station and from thence to
Lees undertake. establishment, where
it was prepared for burial. Coroner Ham
NETT will investigate the case this morn
ing and no doubt give a certificate OF
suicide The relatives OF Mr.. Yakey in
Loudoun county, Va, have been notified
OF his sudden king off.
T. Ritter, who keeps a boathouse at the
foot of Seventh street, notified Capt. Dean,
who is In charge OF the police boat, that
man had hired a boat from him about
o'clock, and that he had just found the boat
drifting in the river without an occupant
In the bottom of the boat was found the
hat, coat and vest, which Mr. Ritter recog-
nized as belonging TO the man who had
hired the boat few minutes before.
On the inside OF the nat Capt Dean found
a card on which was written, John w
Yakcy, 216 Eleventh street southwest"
I Ills was the first indication OF the identity
of the missing man.
y BOTTLE OF LAUDANUM.
4 further search through the clothes
| revealed bottle of lauda NUM-, unopened;
a round trip ferry ticket TO Alexandria,
purchased yesterday morning; 81 30 in
| change, and a few trinkets
Capt. Dean turned these articles over to
Inspector Hollinberger, who VIII hold them
| awaiting an investigation.
| As soon as he was satisfied that the man
! had drowned himself, the officer went to
! Yakey's place OF business, which is
| at No. 901 Louisiana avenue. When he
reached the store he found Mrs Yakey.
anxiously awaiting her husbands return.
! Capt Dean was the first one to break
! to her the news OF the sad affair The
wife could scarcely credit the report at
! first, and when she fiually realized what
had happened became hysterical she was
| conveyed 10 her home a few minutes
later in a carriage.
LEFT A LETTER.
| a search among Mr. Yakcy's papers in
| the office safe disclosed a letter writer 6
! Wednesday, in which the dead man clearly
indicated hispurposeto commit suicide.
! 1t was addressed to his wife, and after
recting his Indebtedness to various par
/ ties, and a desire That all his just debts
/ should be paid out OF his life insurance.
/ lie bade her an affecuonate farewell,
| committing her 10 Gods keeping.
| The letter was inclosed in yellow en-
/ veiope and addressed 10 Mrs Ida Yakey,
| PIG Eleventh street southwest.
The only reason given why Mr.. Yakey
should have taken his life was his financial
| condition. His business has been quite
| dun for some mouths, and be has been
repeatedly heard to say during the past
month that death was the only thing which
would relieve him OF his Troubles.
He is said to have made use Of the same
! expression to his wife on leaving home
! this morning, who tried in every way TO
| dissuade him from the idea.
WAS "GOING FOR A SWIM"
Daniel Dogans, colorcd porter, who has
who has been employed by Mr.. Yakcy
! for over nine years was seen by Times
reporter a short tine after the suicide,
! and said that Mr Yakey came TO his place
OF business about $50 yesterday morning,
bat left short time after, saying he was
going down to take swim. The porter re-
garded his remark i'll the light OF Joke,
and thought nothing more Of the matter.
E. C. Ford, who kecpsb a stand in the
! Center Market. who was an intimate friend
OF the drowned man, was also seen and said
that Yakey told him on Wednesday that
he wanted him to look after his affairs and
tc see that his debts were paid.
HAD STEADY HABITS.
John W. Yakey was bornin Leesburg, Lou
doun County, Va, and came to this city
about sixteen years ago. He has for the
past ten years conducted a commission
business on Louisiana avenue under the
firm name of Yakey and Snouffer.
He was regarded as a man of steady hab-
its and held the respect of the business com
| munity.
Mr.. Yakey was said to be insured in the
National Union Life Insurance Company
for $1,000.