Evening star., 1897-04-15
H E IN II A | ED G AS
Suicide Of Charles W. Golden, Who Was
Despondent
Discovery of His Body In . Room
This Mornfng-Tircd
Of Life.

Charles w. Golden to end his life last night
by inhaling Illuminating gas This morning
his dead body was found In bed in his
room at No. 457 c street northwest, the
boarding house of Mrs. Chamberlain 1t was
nearly 8 o'clock when Mrs. Chamberlain
went to his room because Of the smell of
escaping gas and found that life was ex-
tinct But for fear of making a mistake a
physician was sent for. and he saw that
life had left the body several hours before
the ghastly find was made.
Golden. who was about sixty years old,
had occupied a room in Mrs Chamberlain's
house for about eight years. He had usual
ly occupied a hall room, but being sick last
winter he changed his quarters to low
room over the back building the room in
which, Mrs. Chamberlain stored her trunks
me low ceiling and cramped quarters made
the room anything but comfortable, but
mere was q wood stove in the room, which
enabled him to keep the place warm and
Cock any little thing he might want to eat
Although he had roomed in the house for
eight years he had told Mrs. Chamberlain
very little Of his family connections, except
that his niece, Mrs. Carrie Smith. kept a
dry goods store In Anacostia. In this way
II was learned that he was a brother of the
late Stephen NJ. Golden, who was at one
tlme an assistant superintendent of the
county roads. The deceased had been feel
Ing unwell for some time, and his attending
physician had said he was suffering from
an attack of softening Of the BRAIN Re-
Gently he spent about two weeks in Garfield
hospital. so 1t is said, and when he re-
turned home he said the physicians thought
there was not much the matter with him.
And he went on the same as he had before
ne received the hospital treatment, eating
MS meals at cheap dining rooms and re-
naming IN his room most of the time.
A Financial Deluxion.
hn h
mystery to the other people in the house,
but he seemed to have a small income.
Occasionally he would speak Of money mat
tiers, and seemed anxious to lead others to
the belief that he had spent about all he
had. and that he expected soon to go to
the poor house. While this was not true,
the poor man really believed 1t was, and
it was this ungrounded belief that really
caused him to take his life. For several
months the unfortunte man had thought
of ending his life for he frequently said
that death In this way was SO easy. When
he would hear of any one committing sui
eide he invariably discussed the case, and
always concluded by saying that suicide
was an easy way of ending life. Yester-
day he was about the house. and was very
respondent, as he had been for several
days. although he made no remark which
indicated that he intended taking his life,
Last night he went to his room early, and
nothing more was heard Of him until this
morning. when Mrs. Chamberlain smeIIed
the gas and found the body. When she
opened the door leading to the room the
smell OF gas almost stifled her, but she
went in and stopped the flow Of gas and
opened the windows. Then she called one
OF the boarders in the house. and he called
In Sergt. Hamilton and Policeman New
kirk. They reached the house after the
doctor had viewed the body and made out
a list of his effects.
Preparations for Death.
The condition of the room made it evil
dent that the dead man had taken his own
life, for he had tied his coat about the
stovepipe to prevent the escape of gas and
mad also put garment over the keyhole
In his pocket was found a note, evidently
written several days ago. This was ad-
dressed Dear Rite" and read: IF 1 should
die bury me where you choose and If there
is any money left give 1t to Charlie and
his mother. 1 have taken so much medi-
cine and it does not seem to do me any
good. Charles w. Golden"
In the dead mans pocket book the police
found about $50, and papers found in his
bureau drawer indicated that he had more
money coming to him. The room in which
he was found contained none of the COM
forts of life. and this was one of the re-
suits OF his efforts to live economically and
save his money. When the police had made
a thorough investigation of the case Coro.
ner Hammett called and gave a certificate
of death. Undertaken j. W. Lee then took
charge of the body and removed it to his
establishment on Pennsylvania avenue,
The police then communicated with the
dead mans relatives, who were greatly
shocked at hearing the news of his sad
end.
GOlden's Family,
The deceased, as already stated, was a
brother of the late Stephen NJ Golden,
who was a member of the cid District leg
islature. He died several years ago, and
for some time previous to his death he
was in the dairy business in Anacostia. and
his brother, the dead man, was associated
with him. The Goldens came here from
West Troy, N. Y, many years ago, and
Charles w. Golden, who committed suicide
was a farmer. He got a position on the
Washington and Georgetown railroad as
conductor, but left the employment OF
the company about the time the cable road
was constructed. Being a bachelor and
being of an economical disposition he saved
considerable money. and 1t was from this
money that he got his small income
Rite" to whom the letter was addressed,
Is Mrs. Maria Golden, widow of Ste
phen Golden, and Charlie" who is to
get his money, Is a grandnephew. Rela-
tives have taken charge of the body.