The evening times., 1896-12-01
MONTH OF MANY SUICIDES
Ten People Tired Of Life and
Trouble in November.
SIX KILLED THEMSELVES
Mania for Self-DestructiOn Among
the Unfortunate Ones-Suic dal Al.
temps Are Considered Felonies In
Many States-Four Used a Pistol
and Two Chose Hanging.

November will 90 dow in local history
as the suicide month OF 1896. An un'
eXplainable mania for self destruction seems
tn have swept over the city, prompting
many persons To take their own hves.
The records show that since october 81
six people have died by their own hand
and -four others attempted TO Kill them
selves.
An attempt at self-dcstruction is not con-
sidereu a felony in the District. but i'll
many states is punishable with severe SEN
t,nces and is cIassed as crime.
The causes which have led these half
dozen persons to take their lives are widely
diversified. nl-health, despondency result
ing from drink. business matters, and
family troubles have allbeen responsible for
one or more of the deaths.
While many authorities claim that a
suicide is always mentally irresponsible at
the time of committing the act, of those
who have killed themselves during the
month, but one was officially pronounced
insane.
THOSE WHO SUCCEEDED.
II appears from the records that of the
six persons who succeeded in ending their
lives. four used pistols the most direct
route TO another world, while two pre-
ferred hanging.
OF the four who did not succeed. three
attempted sclf-destruction by means OF
poison and one, who afterward hung MINI
self, tried drowning the first time. Eight
of the ten people who wished TO escape
from the niseries of this world were men,
and all of those who succeeded were OF the
same sex.
Two woinentriedto poison themselves but
at the last nome mt preferred to remain on
earth and called III n physician. There Is
a maxim oft repeated among the police
month by two others. November, how
ever, has furnished its full quota. and more,
and if the saving be true, December will
be free from suicides.
The list Ior last month was headed by
John Thomas Minor, an aged colored man.
Minor was found one eveniug hanging from
Il Eas jet ia his home III the southeast sec
ton Of the city. His mind was undoubtedly
affected ana 1t was shown al the inquest
that he mad AT one time been an inmate OF
st. E!iZabeth's.
QUIETLY SHOT HIM ELF.
b. W Frazier, 4 WE'LL known hotel man,
was the next Victim oT the suicidal mama.
He went out quietly one morning and put Il
bullet in his brain. DeSpondency, result
ing tro!n continued Illheditn. Was given ;t>
the cause. lie gave no intination 10 his
friends or family that hc intended killing
himself and his death was a great shock
to all who knew him.
Mrs Annie Rush then concluded that sh.
wished to die and one night, while riding
ona street car she swallowed a quantity Of
a patent preparation known as bromidia.
TINS WIS Mrs. Rushs second attempt at
suicide.
She reconSidcred the matter, however,
and concluded that this would be pretty
good place to live in after all Then she
explained matters 10 the rripman. who
took her to a drug store and later she
was sent To Garfield Hospital where she
recovered.
Charles Henry, a printer, was number
four. Henry jumped off a dock down at
the Arsenal. but the water was cold and he
yelled until someone came along and pulled
him out. Henry waited week and then
Went out in the country and hanged him
self.
Robert Whitchand. the eccentric pro
prietor of The Old Curiosity shop" was
the second TO use the pistol He put a bul
let in his head one quiet Sunday evening
and left no note or message to the friends
he quilted. DcSpondency over business
troubles was asst cncd as the cause.
AN EMPTY LAUDANUM BOTTLE.
G.. h. Luck, a prominent Young insurance
man. was one of those who failed. MIR.
Luck walked into Bryan's Hotel, on the
Avenue and said he was tired and wanted
room. He was conducted to an apart
ment and a few hours later was found
lying on the floor in an unconscious con-
dition. An empty laudanum bottle by his
side told the story.
AT Emergency Hospital the physicians
worked over him for two hours and saved
his life. Luck's friends said his namesake
had been against him and he had been
thrown out Of employment.
. Dick Mccarthy chose his fathers house in
Georgetown as the scene Of his death, and
selected a bullet as the best means of ac-
complishing it, When those who heard the
report of the pistol found him he was dead.
Family troubles, it was said. caused this
young man with bright prospects and n
good position to end his life.
Lena Howard, a woman of the town, wa S
another who rCpcnted at the last moment.
She rushed into Emergency Hospital early
one morning and told the physicians she
had taken poison. stomach pump saved
her life, and was yesterday discharged from
the hospital
The Evening Tines yesterday told OF the
suicide of Robert f.. Marshall. W no lot him.
self in his brothers home at No. 2o07 Penn
sylvania avenue Mr.. Marshall ends the
sad chapter Truly, November is the month
IL.