Evening star., 1897-06-01
G. G. Mason Commits Suicide in a
Precinct Cell.
SLASHED Els WRIST WITH A RAZOR
He Had Been Addicted to the Use
Of Morphia.
CHASTITY FIND BY OFFICERS

When Policemen Rinck and Williams of
the fourth precinct were engaged this
morning about 6 o'clock releasing the pris
oners who were locked up as "drunks,"
they made ghastly discovery in one Of
the cells. A man named c. c. Mason. who
had been brought in about $50 o'clock yes
terday had committed suicide by sashing
his left wrist with a razor.
Upon reaching the cell door the officers
coticed that the man was seated on the
stone. floor, with his back against the iron
door, while his head hung in front of nim
between his knees.
Wake up, there" said one of the police
men, touching the mans back and shaking
him.
There was no response, and one of the
officers suggested that there was some
thing the matter. The door was opened,
and the dead body of the man fell over on
the floor. In front of him there was a
pool of blood, and the condition of the body
| made 1t evident that death had occurred
against the man was drunkenness, it is
also believed that he was mora under the
| influence of morphine than of liquor for a
box containing few morphine pills was
found on him.
His Condition When Arrested,
1t was about $50 O'clock yesterday when
Patrol Driver AL. Vernon saw Mason stand
west between 9Th and 7th streets, and dis
| covering the man was in no condition to
| care for himself, he stepped up to him and
inquired:
whats the matter?"
i can't navigate any farther was the
| response.
Have you been drinking or are you
slck? the man was next asked
Been drinking" he answered.
The patrol wagon reached the scene in q
hon 11l
front of the station with the prisoner he
was so weak that Policeman Rinck had to
carry him from the vehicle to the CELL He
was searched, but not thoroughIy and was
relieved of a penknife his eyeglasses and
his umbrella. In his pockets the officers
found the pills, but these were not taken
from him.
Don't take my knife from me-" said the
prisoner apparently in jest. Wont YOU
let me keep it?"
Request Refused.
II IS against the rules of the department
10 alcw prisoners such a privilege and
10 exception was made in this case The
ponce, however, had no idea that Mason
was bent on ending his own life, for, al
though ne was very weak and did not ap-
| pear to have full control of his senses, ne
was IN jolly huh.or and was inclined to
JOKE. He stood at the rail long enough to
say his name was John Mason: that ha
was hfty-two years old. and that he was
a druggist Then he was locked up and
!eIt 10 hlmself. During the early hours of
the evening the officers in the station
passed through the corridor in the cell
room, but noticed nothing wrong and If
was not until they visited the cell, as
stated, that anything was known of the
horrible occurrence
Although there vas clean cut wound
across the dead mans wrist, there was no
weapon In sight. and as he had been
searched. the officers were at a loss to
know with what the wound had been in
hfcted Assistance was summoned and
the body Of the unfortunate man was put
on stretcher and more thorough search
ioT weapon was made. Then 1t was that
sharp razor was found concealed in AN
Andergarment near his shoe top The
razor was smeared with blood, and had un-
dountediy been used in making the fatal
wound. The pills were taken to the drug
store from which they had been purchased,
and the clerk told the police that they coa-
| tanned morphine.
| he was c. c. Mason, and that he lived
| at 6S3 4th street northeast The police also
found on him book and papers showing
! his connection with the Virginia Insurance
Company of Richmond.
The Relatives Notified.
Relatives of the deceased were notified,
| and Mason's son-in-law took charge of the
body. The deceased was fifty-two years
old, ard had lived in this city about four
years, being an agent of the insurance
company mentioned. He came here from
Pendieton county, Kentucky, about twen-
ty-five miles from Cincinnati and lived
with his wife and young daughter at the
| hi Use on 4th street. His daughter is en-
ployed as a clerk in a store on 7th street
and she was called home by the event
which had brought sorrow to the happy
home.
Mrs. Mason, widow of the dead man. was
| not at hcIae when the police called to ask
| for tnStruC tiOnS about the DISPOSITION of
| the body. She was at Brightwood nursing
| a sick. frienG, 1t was stated, and word of
her husbands suicide was sent to her.
Coroner Hs mmett viewed the body at the
\ station. and directed that 1t be taken 20
| the morgue until he could make a further
In