The evening times., 1896-08-31
SIGNS POINT TO SUICIDE
Michael GrahamESca From
a Baltimore Hospital.
FORMERLY WORKED HERE
Was at One Time Head Machinist of
the Metropolitan Power Plant.
Crazy on the Question of Health.
Thought He Was Suffering from
an Incurabie Disease.

| Michael Graham, until recently the head
machinist of the power plant OF the Metro
poltan Street Railway Company Of this
! city, is supposed to have committed suicide
| on Friday last by drowning himself in
| what is known as Blue Dam Pond in Ealti-
| more.
Since last January Graham had not work
| ed on account of illhealth His mind be-
| came impaired and he was aS-confined in st.
| Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, from which
place be escaped on Friday and has not
| since been seen.
Mr. Graham had been at the hospital
since July 23. Prior to that he was at the
| Johns Hopkins Hospital. He told fellow
| patient at St Agnes that he had overheard
| doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital say that
| lis case was hopeless. This seemed TO CON
| stantly prey on his mind, although lately
| his condition was much improved and he
| took frequent walks in the country adjacent
TO the hospital.
CRAZY IN REGARD TO HEALTH.
His companions say that he was per
feculy rational except when reference was
made to his health. 1t was his belief that
he had n hole in his stomach, through
which the food he would take would ftSd
its way down into his legs. He also en-
tcrtained other strange notions about his
malady. which was really complca ton
OF nervous disorders. Last week he wrote
a letter to his wife, saying he contemplated
suicide, but whenever he thought OF it
a vision of her seemed to rise up aud save
HIN.
Last Friday morning he left the hos
pital, saying that he was going to take a
walk. Not returning in the evening, a
message was sent to his wife and search
was instituted. The Baltimore police We're
also notified. Parties hunted through the
woods near the hospital, but no trace of the
missing man was discovered.
Yesterday morning Mr.. W. A. Fowble,
one of the patients, found Grabam's hat
and cane on the west side of the Blue
Dam pond. 4 pair of socks marked with
Graham's ward number in the hospital
was also found In the water was stand
ing "A long pole. which 1t is thought, was
used by Graham to measure its depth.
SIGNS POINT TO SUICIDE.
A bluff, covered by thick growth of
Young oak and chestnut trees, runs along
this side OF the pond and makes a sharp
descent to the waters edge. Footprints
were noticed down this declivity.
Mr. Fewble found among the trees torn
scraps of a letter which had been written to
Graham by his wife. 1t was in reply to the
one written by her husband in which he
spoke of committing suicide. The letter
was full of affection and urged him to keep
up his spirits.
Mrs. Graham was at the hospital when
Mr.. Fowbie brought in the cane and hat OF
her husband. She at first refused to be-
lieve that he had committed suicide and at
the sight OF these articles was completely
overcome She feared that he had not re-
ceived the message OF comfort and hope
conveyed by her letter, and when shown
the fragments of the letter was deeply ar
fected.
Blue Dam pond is on the property OF Mr..
James Hoffman. 1t takes its name from
the fact that for long time the water was
of a Geep-blue color. West OF this pond is
body of water. the name of which-Yel
low Dam pond-rcceives it's appellation
from the yellowish hue of the water.
WELL KNOWN IN WASHINGTON.
Both ponds We're created by the flow OF
spring water into excavations made before
the civil war, when veins OF iron ore were
worked on the property. A large number OF
shafts were sunk and d fter wa rd a abandoned.
In some places the pond is shallow but
within a short distance are holes about 100
feet deep. The water is icy cold and in ex-
tremely hot weather veDturcsome lads lv-
ing near by battle in these ponds.
About three years ago boy who was
swimming wastaken with crampan nd sunk
II was several weeks before his body, which
had lodged in one of the holes could be
found. Divers made thorough search Of
the bottom Of the pond before being able to
discover the body.
Graham was well known in this city
His services with the Metropolitan Company
began in February, 1895, when prepara-
tIons for running the Ninth street electric
line began. He was chief engineer of the
plant, andlvcd atNo. 249 Four-a nl-a-haIf
street southwest
Six years ago lie married Miss Maggie
Barney, OF Baltimore lie was born in the
Monumental City thirty-seven years ago,
and for number of years was employed as
chief engineer by the Baltimore City Pas
senSer Railway Company. He was MEM
Der of Zeta Conclave, No. 6, of the Order
of HeptaSophs.