Evening star., 1896-08-07
WAS TIRED OF LIFE
Shocking Suicide of an Unknown Man
Up the River.
DETERMINED ON SELF DESTRUCTION
He Reached His JuguIar Vein With
a Small Pocket Knife.
FEW CLUES TO IDENTITY

The body Of an unknown white man was
discovered shortly before o'clock this
morning on the grass few hundred feet
from Cabin John run and about 100 yards
from Cabin John bridge The body was
that of a man about twenty-four TWEEN
ty-fve years of age The discovery was
| made Ivy Philip Jackson, a colored laborer
employed by some stone masons doing
work on the bridge. Jackson saw the body
at Z o'clock in the morning when his
way to work, but thinking the man was
sleeping off the effects of a drunk, did not
disturb him. Passing by the bridge an
hour later. and seeing the body in the same
position, he went up to awaken tile !nar,
and was surprised to find corpse. Blood
covered the body and the ground, and the
negro. frightened out of mis- wits, dashed
up to Cabin John Bridge Hotel and gave
the alarm. Deputy Sheriff Embrey was
summoned and took charge of the remains
placing Mr.. j. H. Harper to guard the body
while he went to notify the coroner and Sc
cure a jury. A bed sheet was secured from
the hotel to cover the remains, while the
blood spots which surrounded the body
were covered with paper.
The Death Struggle.
Just when the suicide occurred nobody
knows. The young man was seen early III
the afternoon yesterday, and at about II
o'clock last night was seen on Cabin John
bridge. From the position of the body and
the blood on the ground. death did not
come painlessly. There is a cash on the
right side of the neck just under the jaw
bone, while on the left side there Is a
CHASTITY wound. The young man evidently
jabbed the knife in the left jugular vein
and after making several slashes, drove
the knife still further in, and turned it
around several times in order to insure
self-destruction.
There is an open hole fully an inch in
diameter. through which the blood poured.
There were bloody spots all around the
body. and the straw hat of the suicide was
fully ten feet from where the body lay.
After inficting the wound, the young man
too weak to stand. when he dropped and
gradually sank until death relieved his suf-
ferings.
Simple Weapon Used.
The deed was done with small pearl
hardled pocket knife. the largest blade.
not more than an inch and a half in
lergth, doing the deadly work. The knife
was found on the ground few feet from
the body, and near by a handkerchief sat
urated with blood was lying. From all
indications the young man, after gashin2
himself. vainly endeavored to stop the
flow of the blood.
The body was found lying in natural
position. with the feet crossed and the
arms extended. The eyes were wide open,
with ghdstly stare, while the mouth was
of teeth. The right hand was tightly
clenched. the knife apparently having been
held in that hand.
Description of the Suicide.
The unfortunate man was dressed in a
blue serge coat, with black diagonal serge
pantaloons. He had no vest and only a
shirt, with no collar, though gold but
ton was visible in front. A new leather
belt was fastened around the waist. His
face was thin and was covered with days
or more growth of beard. His eyes were
blue, and he had dark brown hair. When
searched by Deputy Sheriff Embrey two
pc tnnicS and two keys were found in his
trousers pockets and three car tickets of
the Capital Traction Company, and wet
handkerchief was found in his coat pocket
Nothing Is known of the young man at
Cabin Iohn. He appeared there yesterday
afternoon and was first seen by one of the
walters at the hotel. He asked for a drink
o. water. and getti1 no satisfaction went
over into the stable yard across the road.
Here he was seen by Thomas Henley the
man in charge of the stables.
Complained of Being Sick.
The young man was looking very badly,
and In response to an inquiry. stated that
he was very sick, having an attack of
vomiting spells. which came on him twice
a year. He asked for permission to wash
his face in the watering trough at the hy-
drant. This was given and the young man
| washed his face with the handkerchief
which was found in his coat pocket. Be-
fore leaving the yard he asked the direc-
ton OF the canal. Nothing more was seen
Of him until about IL o'clock at night.
when some people saw him crossing the
bridge Nothing more was heard of him
until the discovery of the body this morn
ing.