Evening star., 1896-12-16
HE ENDED HIS LIFE
Mr.. Frank R. Phister Fires a Fatal
Shot.
DESPONDENT AND DESIRED DEATH
Was a WelI-Known Government
Clerk and Southern Man.
FOU Nd IN HIS B e D

Mr.. Frank r. Phister, government clerk
and a popular young man about town,
committed suicide this morning at his
boarding house. 922 1 street, by shooting
himself through the head. Death was
IL Simultaneous, and when the body was
found about s o'clock this morning the
young man had evidently been dead for
some time
The young man was a son of the late
Elijah C. Phister of Maysville, Ky, who
represented the tenth Kentucky district
in the Forty-stxth and Forty-seventh Con-
gresses. During his fathers term in Of
flee the young man was appointed to a
government clerkship, and was for time
cor nected with the Smithsonian Institu-
ticn. For the past year or so he had been
clerk in the Indian bureau.
Mr.. Phister had lived for couple Of
years past at the boarding house on 1
street and was prominent in the southern
contingent of Washington society. He
was a good-looking man. always we'll dress
ed and was about thirty-six years of age.
He was also well acquainted among the
artistic set and was something of an anna
teur himself. The walls Of his room were
hung with excellent amateur photographs,
mementoes of social events in which he
had participated, and with photographs Of
southern beauties. He was well liked by
all who knew him and was of rather a
studious turn of mind. devoting his even
ipgs as rule to reading, but he was his
own worst enemy. At times ne was a
hard drinker, and there is little doubt that
he killed himself either in fit of tempor-
ary insanity or in the deep despondency
that succeeded a spree that had lasted for
several days.
When Mr.. Phister returned to his board
ing house early last evening he was evil
scarcely able to make his way to his room
on the fourth floor. A friend Of his, who
occupied room In the same house. came
TO his assistance and finally got him to
extremely nervous condition, and his friend
went to neighboring drug store and got
him sedative powder, after which he
went to Sleep
At an early hour this morning. somewhere
between and 5 o'clock, two ladies in the
house heard a noise that sounded like the
report of a pistol. but they were unable to
locate it and paid no further attention to
the matter. About o'clock this morning
jeff, colored waiter, went upstairs to call
Mr. Phister. He opened the door and caught
glimpse of the body lying on the bed.
He turned and hurried down the stairs to
give the alarm. The sight that met the
first to enter the room was a shocking one.
The young man was in bed under the COW
ers. In his right hand was still clasped a
handsome pearl-handled revolver. He had
evidently drawn the weapon from under his
pillow. and, placing the muZZle to his right
temple, had fired one shot. The wound had
bled tremendously, and pillow and mattress
were drenchcd
The authorities were notified and Coroner
Hammett after viewing the body and max
ing a thorough investigation. decided that
an inquest would not be necessary. The
body was turned over to a local undertaken
to be prepared for burial and word was sent
to the young mans sister in New York and
relatives iS
supposed that the remains will be taken to
Maysville for interment.