The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-25
he TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
Ex.Iaspector OF Police Committed
Suicide 10 Prison.
GAVE HIS DEATH AS SATISFACTION.
He Left y Letter TellinE of Ms Part
In the I<siiins Of Arroyo, the
Prcsidcnt's Assailant.


spector General Of the Police Eduardo
vcisscues at the age Of ~ years. lies
tonight q corpse. having takcn his own
life In Beiem prison at about $3.50 o'clock
this morning by shooting himself. He wa
proud man. exceedingly reserved, rarely
being known TO smile and very ambi-
uot's. his rise from an humble position
through various posts to the command
OF the police force having been sufficiently
rapid to attract attention to him as man
OF great talent.
Since the alleged iynching plot was ex-
posed and velasquez with other officials
OF the police were Imprisoned, he has
shown a marked change. being extremely
reticcnt aud evidently suffering from in
tense nervous strain. He was subjected
Yesterday to a long examination by Judge
Flores and at the conclusion OF that ordeal
ON his return to his room in prison It
was noted that he showed great detection
and anguish Of mind. He had always boon
in the habit OF retiring late and In prison
kept up his custom. rising about 10 o'clock.
except when his presence was required by
tho judge. Last night he retired late
and at II o'clock this morning tho war
den OF the prison went to call him. The
warden went to the bedside OF Vela.q uen
and said In "a friendly tone as he knew
the prisoner we'll: Come, my boy, it's
time to get up; Judge Flores wants YOU"
Receiving no answer, he began to shake
him. saying Don't be lazy" when ho
noted that Velasquez had bullet wound
in the right temple and investigating fur
Their found a small wo-barrelod pistol with
which the act Ind been committed. The
weapon was a small one and the muzslc,
which had been placed 30 close to the
temple and pressed into the skin that
practically made no noise on being dis
charged. hence the reason OF no report
being heard by the guards How the pis-
toll reached the prisoner Ia under investi-
CATION and certain person liz suspected.
The body 10y In a perfectly natural posi-
tton. one arm on the bed the other thrown
across. the eyes were closed and the face
perfectly tranquil The warden immcdiate-
ly notified the judicial authorities. who
went at once to the room OF the suicide
and summoned medical men.
Judge Flores remarked that he had given
the strictest orders, foresceng that Vclas-
quez might make this attempt, that he. DO
carefully watched and every precaut.on bc
taken to keen tho weapons from him. At
first the authorities were inclined 30 CEN
During the afternoon relatives Of tho
dead man were allowed to enter the
prison. which had been closed to the public.
Tho doctors had concluded the examina.
ton and had found that death must have
been instantaneous. The bullet was I'm.
bedded In the brain. Judging by the tom
perature Of tho stomach the physicians
came to the conclusion the act must have
been committed about a;30 o'clock this
morning. Velasquez bad supped yerv fight.
1y and the remains OF HIS repast were ON
the table by his side. The body was then
dressed and delivered 10 relatives
letter was found In the room In which
Velasauez made his statement 20 the pub. |
lie saying his death was. he felt the sat
isfaction he owed to society and he should
therefore give that satisfaction by leaving |
the world. He also said that tho crime
was suggested TO him by Inspector vi. |
lavicencio OF the Second police district |
who is in prison. Velasquoz added That
under amy other circumstances not having |
been In high official authority nothing
could have induced him 20 take part In tho |
crime. He felt. 1t ls said that HIS 10y |
atty to the chief magistrate whose life had |
been attempted, required that he put Arr
royo to death. In fact he said this re.
pentedly yesterday on being questioned. |
II is generally felt by his friends that |
FillaNicencio was his evil star, having
from the time Vclasquez became chief OF |
police gained remarkable influence over
him, although he was warned by those
who had his welfare at heart to beware
OF the man.
Vclasquez had very wide acquaintance.
having been employed after leaving col,
lege In the department OF finance az Soc
rotary to the finance minister At one
time he was connected with the newspaper
El Combate and had at an early age been
elected TO congress. He had effected MANY
reforms during his incumbcncy ar inspec-
tor.