The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-17

and the Inspectors of the Postofhce
Make an appointment With Him to
Hear His Explanation, But When They
Go TO the Place of Meeting He Fails
TO Put in an Appearance-He had Com
mitted Suicide In Order to Escape Fac
ing Disgrace-Had Gambled.
Kansas City. March 16.---Postmaster
Frank Mapes Of Kansas City, Kan,
one of the best known Democrats Of the
state of Kansas, committed suicide by
shooting himself at his home, rs Wash
ington avenue, Sunday morning. The
cause of his suicide was the discovery
Of a shortage in his accounts with the
government
The discovery had just been made by
Inspectors Sutton and Reid, of the post
office department at Washington. Rath-
er than face the charges of official dis
honesty Mr.. Mapes took his own life.
The affair has created a sensation in
Kansas City, Kan, and in this city. The
last time Mr.. Mapes was at the postof-
fee was Ffday night. The inspectors
arrived Thursday and began the inspec-
completed the examinatio but have
Rscertained that the amount of the
shortage viii be between IS, 900 and $l0,-
600. Thursday and Friday they found
some discrepancies in the book accounts
at the Office. The postmaster, SO the en-
ployes say, always kept the books I'M
der lock and key, and would not allow
anyone to handle them. The shortage
extends over twelve months, the in
spectors say, and was covered up by
false entries in the books and in reports
sent to the department at Washington.
The inspectors made an appointment
with Mr.. Mapes to meet him at the Of
fee at 9 o'clock Saturday morning, to
afford him an opportunity to explain
the discrepancies. They were there on
time, but the postmaster did not come.
He went home about 10 O'Clock Friday
night and seemed to be in the best Of
spirits. a messenger was sent to his
home at 10 o'clock Saturday morning,
requesting him to come to the Office. The
messenger returned and said that Mr..
Mapes was not at home. At noon an
other messenger was sent there, but
could not get to see the postmaster. At
8 O'Clock in the evening Assistant Post
master John Warren and Inspector SUIT
ton went to the house, but were told
that Mr.. Mapes was still absent They
were of the opinion that he was at home
but that he did not want to see them.
Yesterday morning Mrs. Mapes and
the two children, Roy and Nettie, arose
at the usual hour. Mr.. Mapes claimed
to be feeling i'll and remained in bed.
About 9:15 o'clock he called his wife in
to the room and asked her to send for
William L. Wood, the well known in
surance man, who was an old friend OF
his. She did SO. The postmaster then
told his children to come to him. He re-
quested them to play him a piece on
their mandolin and guitar. They went
into the parlor, which adjoins Mr..
Mapes' bed room, and played a couple
of selections. About that time Richard
Mapes, a brother of the postmaster, who
resides with him, started to go down
town. Mr.. Mapes asked him to wait
until Mr.. Wood came. 81 may have a
he said. Richard Mapes waited. These
were the last words he uttered.
FIRED THE FATAL SHOT.
While the children were playing Mr..
Wood came. Mrs. Mapes opened the
door and he walked into the house. He
started TO the bed room to see Mr..
Mapes, and just as he pushed the door
open he heard the report of a pistol. He
rushed into the room and saw Mr..
Mapes fall ont the bed. Mr.. Mapes was
sitting on the edge of the bed when the
shot was fired and his body fell back
ward. The bullet entered the right
temple and passed out just over the
left temple. It struck the ceiling and
fell TO the floor. The revolver used was
one which, it is said, Mr.. Mapes bor-
rowed 2 short time a go from eX-District
Clerk E. w. Towner. an old friend.
Mrs. Mapes was in the parlor when
the shot was fired. Horrorstricken she
rushed to the bed room and asked what
was the matter. She glanced at the bed
and saw that her husband had shot
himself. She threw herself on his body
and seized the revolver.
MRS. MAPES FRUSTRATED.
Mr.. Wood wrested it from her hand
and led her out Of the room. She be-
came Frustrated. Mr.. Wood then drew
a cover over the face of the postmaster
and sent a neighbor for a doctor. Sew
eral physicians were soon at the Mapes
home, but they could do nothing. Mr..
Mapes' wound was fatal and he expired
IN thirty minutes. He was unconscious
from the time the ball entered his brain |
until death came
Everything goes to show that the act |
was premeditated. Mr.. Mapes was very |
fond Of his children and liked to hear |
lIiSIl play the guitar anu 1lldDUOIln. 1T I
is believed that he did not want TO shoot /
himself while no one but the family was |
there, and that he sent for Mr.. Wood |
for the sole purpose Of having some man |
In the house when he committed the |
deed. This is evidenced in the fact that |
he did not wait TO talk with Mr.. Wood, |
but fired the fatal shot just as he reach |
ed the house.
The two children of the late postmas- |
ter were the sunshine Of his life. He al |
most worshiped them. Nettie. the girl, |
Is about 10 years old, while Roy is Is /
years OF age. They are expert dancers
and only a short time ago delighted a /
large audience with their steps at the /
Female Minstrel" show given by the /
young ladies of st. Paurs Episcopal (
church. .-t e--S-
MIR MAPES' PUBLIC CAREER.
Postmaster Frank Iapes was 81 years
old at the time of death. he was born
at Racine. Wis, December .. 1862, and |
came 10 Kansas City three years later
with his parents. They located in old |
Wyandotte and he was given a good 1
education. He started out TO make his |
own living shortly after finishing his
education, and went 10 st. Louis, where
he learned the machinsts trade. He re-
life GpnnndC