Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-13
H E TOOK POIS o N
Dependency Led John Weighler to Destroy
His Life.
Told His Little Daughter What He
Had DOne-EHOrts to Sup
press the Affair.

| Dependency, caused by failure to get
! employment in order that he might provide
| for his family some of the luxuries Of life,
| as well as the necessities. caused John
Weighler, pastry cook. TO end his life Fri
| day night. He lived at No. 1920 It'll street
| northwest with his wife and four Of his
| children, and during the past few years he
| lad made two similar attempts. Each time
| he made the attempt because of despond-
ehcy, resulting from his being out of en-
| Payment. the second attempt having been
| made just prior to the marriage of his
| daughter.
| Weigier was about fifty-fivc years Old.
| and was con: idered one of the finest pastry
| cooks in the city. He was not temper
| ance man by any means, and when de-
spondent he sometimes succeeded in drown
ing his feelings in the flowing bowl Only
a few days ago he received word from an
employment agency that he might get
situation at Berkeley Springs, w. Va, and
when the agent finally reported that the
position had been secuI ed for him. Weisler
made the journey to the Springs only to
learn that his services were not desired
Returning home he was more Respondent
than ever, and although he said nothing OF
suicide before last night. he was very much
depressed in spirits and had remarked to
friends that everything seemed 10 go
Never mind" friend told him no later
thar FRIDAY. You will get along all right
soon: don't get discouraged"
But | cant help it, said the man OF
family. Il out of work and everywhere
l go hear the same old story.
Your family is not starving, this friend
said to him And You are doing well now.
Have patience and all will come right"
After this he called at saloon and drank
a glass of beer. Later in the day he had
some beer in arother saloon, and Just
about the time he took the tai dose of
Paris green" he had a glass of beer in a
sal loon next to his house He went in his
own house, and, seating himself near the
head of the stairs, he called his daughter,
child twelve years old, and seated her Oh
go and tell your mother to come here"
he said to the child. I'm dying because
I've taken poison"
Papa" said the daughter. you're fool
ing Did you really take poison
Eyes, indeed. my child he answered
| laughingly, land I'm dying"
Papa, you're fooIins me-" she repeated.
Tell me the truth, did you take poison?'
The poison was then taking effect, and
as the man was getting sick he became
more serious. and then the child called for
mother 1t soon became necessary to put
the sick man to bed. and DR.. Beh:ends.
who had been the family doctor for many
years, was sent for. 1t was about S
o'clock when he arrived. and he found that
the poison ndd tdheH SucH Il hoil oH lte
patient that it was impossible for any good
to be done.
Inconsistencies soon followed. and the
Respondent man, whose mind had evidently
become unbalanced, died before . o'clock.
The members Of his family and number
of friends were at his bedside when he died
Because of the circumstances of his death.
the physician in attendance could not give
a certificate Of death, and the coroner was
notified, after the news of his death had
been sent to the police.
An officer from the second precinct sta
ton was sent to the house to get particu-
lars Of the mans death, but was unable to
learn anything. as members of the family
had made every effort possible to conceal
the facts