Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-30
BY THE REVOLVER ROUTE
Henry Thomas, a Night Waterman, Takes
His Own Life.
SOME MYSTERY SURROUNDS The CAS-:
Dead Man Was Employed by the Pa
cifc Express Company and
Killed Himself While He
Was on Duty.
SOME MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE CAS-

Henry Thomas watchman for the Pacific
Express company, committed suicide between
the hours of 8 and 10 o'clock last night by
shooting. The circumstances surrounding
his death are yelled in mystery and may lead
to later developments of an interesting ma
ture.
Thomas had been working for the express
company for about eight years and had al
ways been a trusted employe. He went to
work last night at o'clock, the usual hour,
and his watchman's call was turned in to the
American District Telegraph upon the hour.
The next call was turned in at $40, but at
. o'clock IL was not registered. Thinking
that he had accidentally overlooked his duty
for the hour the clerk in charge of the
American District Telegraph called up the
express office by telephone, but failed to get
a response He then called up the residence
OF E. NJ Morseman, president of the COM
pany, and notified him that the watchman
was silent. The police were also notified
and about IL o'clock Captain Haze gained
an entrance to the building and a thorough
search was made. Thomas was at length
found lying dead on a waste heap in the
boiler ro5m, which is situated under the side
walk on tha east side Of the building His
death was due TO bullet which entered tn .
skull directly over the right ear The re-
yolver was still firmly grasped in the dead
mans hand. Crumpled up in the left hand
the following note was found:
LAS God is in heaven | found Ii in the
waste paper. 1t Is on the frst timber in the
stable. Leave my mother alone. | am in
sane. God bless Mr.. E. NJ Morseman.
done it when l was drunk. Then everything
was quiet. THOMAS"
Below the following postscript was added:
Give her some money, that she can live as
long as she likes. Thomas"
Thomas found an envelope a short time
ago in some waste paper which contained
SIS. This he promptly turned over to the
officers of the company Captain Haze at
onco visited the residence OF Thomas at 5l3
South Fifteenth street and an old barn in
the rear OF the house was thoroughly ran
sacked. Nothing was found as indicated in
the note. The mother of Thomas, who is Ger
man and is about so years of age, stated that
her son had been in ill-health for over a year
and that OF late he had acted so queerly that
she had thought him partially deranged. 1t
was learned from Mr.. Morseman that Thomas
had visited Hot Springs, Ark, about six
months ago for his health and had remained
there for nearly month. Thomas received
$50 a month and out Of this amount provided
for his mother.
Thomas was in sole charge until opening
time in the morning. He had the keys OF
the building, which admitted him to all
rooms, unlocked the outer doors and also
gave him admission to the clerks pens
Upon several occasions the safes had been
left unlocked, but in each instance Thomas
had Immediately notified Mr.. Morssman oil
the fact and he had gone TO the ONCE and
seen to their proper closing
July II. 1896, a package had been missed
from the once. which contained S6 900
Private detectives had been employed tc
ferret out the case, but had failed.
The remains OF Thomas was taken in