Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-04
Charles E. Arnold, P. O. Messenger
Boy, Commits Suicide.
BODY FOUND EARLY fHIS MORNING
No Cause Known for Commission
of the Deed.
EST TO BE HELD

| lifeless body was found about 6:15 o'clock
! by Policeman ]. II. Austin. whose atten-
| ton had been called to the presence of the
| body there by the driver of a mail wagon.
An Emergency Hospital physician who was
| called found that life had been extinct only
a short time. Tie body was then removed
| to the moreue, where it was viewed by the
| coroner later in the day.
Policeman Austin was standing at the
| corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 14th
| street few minutes after 6 o'clock, hav-
| ing gone on dog watch at 6 o'clock.
Frank Wynne, who was driving one of the
! big mail wagons, stopped and told him
| that there was a~man lying on the grass
| in the lot, and from his position he imag-
| ined he might be dead. He was on his way
| from the stables to the post Office at the
| time, and being in a hurry he did not
stop and make a close inspection. For
that reason he did not see the wound in
| the young mans head, nor did he see the
pistol that was afterward found on the
grass near him.
Supposing the man was intoxicated and
needed to be cared for, the officer, with
| Special Policeman Hand, went to make
an investigation. There, beneath tree
about 300 feet from the f street entrance
to the Grand Opera House, he saw the
| body. 1t was not until he discovered the
wound in the temple and found the small
revolver that he realized what had hap
pened. Then one of the officers rushed
| over to the Emergency Hospital for ply
sician, who Immediately responded.
The doctor saw at a glance that life was
extinct. and an examination convinced him
that the fatal shot lad been fired not more
than two hours before the body was found.
The Hands Clnsped.
The youth was stretched out fiat upon his
| back, and his hands were clasped on the
chest. Beside the remains, party hidden
by the sleeve of the coat, was small D.
| caliber revolver.
The officers made a search of the dead
| mans pockets for evidence of identifica-
ton, and found a street car transfer that
had been given at 9Th and F streets q few
| minutes after o'clock last night On the
back OF the transfer the unfortunate young
man mad written his name and address:
Charles E. Arnold, 715 Rhode Island ave-
nue.. There was also found in his pockets
box OF cartridges. with several of the
bullets missing; a package of cigarettes
and letter. The letter was from a young
laay VINO lives in South Washington, and
"niie there was nothing in it to indicate
any Noubie between the writer and the
messenger boy, 1t was evident that she was
ANXIOUS TO see him about something. and
tnat something may have worried Arnold
ana caused him to end mis- life About tbis
ms friends profess to know very LITTLE
Later' dime novel of the "Old Can CoI
.iel .He series. containing sensational detec-
tive story, was found. This il is tbonebt
had been the property of the dead vmntb
anu the reading of this cheap literature
tne police think, may have given him the
notion OF using firearms.
His Grandmother Notified.
When the body had been removed to the
morgue Policeman Austin went to the bov,s
nome, on Rhode Island avenue, and saw
mis- grandmother. Mrs. Columbus. with
whom he lived, his parents being dead
Inc sad news was severe shock to the
elderly woman She refused to believe that
ner grandson had shot himself with sui
cidal intent. N
If he did it, she said, "it must have
been an accident but perhaps somebody
else killed him."
The officer learned that the boy had been
steady at his work in the post office. and
SO far as his grandmother knew, he was
not addicted to the use of intoxicants, al
though an empty whisky flask was dis
covered only few feet from where his
body was found. Mrs. Columbus told the
officer that Charles was home Yesterday
a1ter he had finished his work, and that he
went away early in the evening. 1t was
stated that he had said he was going to
attend night school.
At the city post Office it was learned that
he had been in the messenger service ahout
two years, and was exceedingly popular
with his co-laborers. To them he was
known as "Flops"
Arnold was not what we call a rush
er, said one of his companions I'm
this business he added. 'it is necessary
to rush in order to make a good bill, but
he did very little rushing
tuesday he received his pay, about SIG,
said one of the boys, and the same one
added that he heard that instead of taking
the money home he spent it. This boy
said that Charles Arnold was very fond
OF female society. but so far as he knew he
had no particular sweetheart.
Il know he got a letter from a girl in
South Washington said the boy, ''and 1
Know he went to see her yesterday"
Was Not I'm Love-
This boy declared that Arnold was not in
love with this particular girl, any more
than he was with any other of the dozen
or more Of his girl friends. While he had
not heard Arnold say anything about his
intention to kill himself, he said he was
told by another boy that Arnold had said
to the girl named that he did not care to
live any longer, and remarked:
Il must have a pistol; need one"
1t is thought he purchased the revolver
and cartridges in the afternoon after his
visit to South Washington, and that he
had them in his pocket when he went
home to dinner. Last night, as the transfer
indicates, he reached 9th and F streets
shortly after o'clock. Then he met a
young man and went with him to Ker-
mans Theater. Persons who saw him in
the theater say he had not been drinking.
but what he did after leaving the theater
Is rot known.
Thus far the police have been unable to
learn where he spent his time from about
II o'clock until the time the fatal shot was
fired. His friends at the city post office
were SURPRISED when they heard what had
happened. 1t was known that he was
reader of cheap detective stories, but IL he
ever indulged in intoxioants no one about
the office knew it. He was always in good
humor and was of such a tovial disposition
that he had made many friends. who deeply
regret his rash act.
Coroner Investigates.
Coroner Carr viewed the body at the
morgue. and made an investigation of the
case. In order that there should be no
reason for complaint he concluded to hold
an inquest and let a jury pass upon the
cause of death. The police are satisfied that
Arnold took his own life. and that he wrote
his name and address on the transfer for
the purpose OF insuring Identification
Arnold was q grandson Of the late Jere-
miah Columbus, who was q prominent build
er here. and was q brother OF the late Po-
1iceman Al. Columbus.
The body w1ll be turned over to relatives
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