Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-25
HE PREEHRRED DEATH
Policeman Miohael Breen Took His Own
Life.
Suffered With Insomnia and Found
Relief ind the River-Was an
Emcfent ORcer.

Mounted Policeman Michael Breen of the
first precinct. who has been sick for quite
a while, reached the conclusion that he
would not get well, and yesterday morning
ne sought relief by ending his life In the
river only a short distance from the bath
ing beach. Before jumping in the river, he
addressed to DR.. J. r. hewitt one OF the
police surgeons, note, which was found
IN his coat pocket, and this note explained
the unfortunate mans reason for the rash
act. 1t reads as follows:
Dear Sir-You have done everything
that possibly could be done for me. I have
taken so much medicine for this misery
that nothing in the line of medicine, it
seems, takes effect Everything to get
sleep and still don't get it, 1 see nothing
10 come but misery. l hope God Will as
sist my poor family. 1 guess my body will
be noating or at the bottom when you
receive this. M. b.
TO DR.. j. r. hewitt
Indiana avenue"
Body Recovered.
Policeman Samuel Browne was on duty
at the bathing beach yesterday morning
about IL 30 o'clock, when a man reported
the finding of a hat and coat in the bushes
on the shore of the basin, and when the
policeman went and made the search he
found the garments there as indicated. In
the coat pocket was the note addressed to
the doctor, and upon finding this the officer
was certain that it had been left by q
suicide. But little did he think that the
suicide was Policeman Breen, who had SO
frequently visited the neighborhood of the
beach while on duty The note was deliv
cred to Dr. hewitt, who called at the
oeach In response to message. He read
the contents. but could not imagine for
awhile any patient whom he tres ted whose
initials were IN. b." When he reached
nome, however, it daWned upon him that
perhaps the note had been written by the
ponceman, aud he at once went to the Off
GERS house, No. 1857 U street, and there
he learned that the note was in the officers
handwriting and was told that he had left
home in the morning to take walk
Lieut.. Amiss and Sergt. Shilling went to
the river front soon after the affair
reported and they were able to fully iden-
TRY the hat and coat, and when it was
certain that the owner of the articles of
wearing apparel was in the water the Crap
ping irons We're put in use and the search
begun. This search was unsucC essful, and
the ofhcers Of the police boat were called
upon to lend a helping hand. This they
did, and about o'clock the body was re-
covered only a short distance from where
the coat and hat were found on the shore.
An Efficient officer.
The fact that Policeman Br cen had COM
m1tted suicide was not a great surprise to
many or mis- near friends, who knew how
respondent he had become because of his
sickness. He had frequently discussed his
Illness, and had said he felt that he would
take his life. Only day before yesterday he
was In the Police Court to see enc of the
judges. and he appeared then us a man
whose mind had become affected, and per-
sons who knew him well commented iron
his appearance.
In his death the police department loses
an efficient and faithful policeman lie had
been on the force since 1874, and had been
mounted for large part of this time, do
Ing duty about the Center Market. During
ms term OF service on the force he made
many arrests of Importance and captured
ms own city, a great many horse thieves.
Deceased was fifty years old, and had
lived on U street for many years. He
leaves a wife and several grown children,
one OF his daughters being public school
teacher.
Several months ago he sprainei or broke
his leg, and since then he had not done
much duty. Since his recovery from that
injury he had suffered from a severe case
had taken great amount of medicine,
and, as stated in his note, it seemed no
longer to be effective, and so he concluded
that death was preferable 10 suffering.
His body was removed from the river
to Harveys undertaking establishment
and prepared for burial, and was after
ward taken to his late home, from where
his funeral will take place There will be
an escort Of twenty-four policemen detail
ed to attend the funeral, and 1t is possible
that many of the mounted men with whom
he had frequently ridden in professions
viii be among those detailed for this sad
duty.