Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-05-19

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changes in temperature northerly winds be
coming variable.
ANOTHER SUICIDE.-Considerable
sensation was caused in this city about
five o'clock yesterday afternoon by the
announcement that Mr.. Frank f. Cor
bett, one of Alexandria's best known
citizens, had swallowed a large dose Of
choral with suicidal intent. Drs
Smith, Howard and Purvis were sum
moned, and though they used all the
skill at their command his death fol
lowed about half-past eve o'clock.
Mr.. Corbett had been laboring under q
severe mental strain for several years,
and of late had been addicted to the
use of opiates. His friends had been
appreheusive concerning him for some
time, as he had often in his gloomy
moods spoken rashly. His excessive
use of opiates had caused some drug
pists to refuse to sell them to him, but
he had managed to obtain them in
some way. Yesterday he was in the
street as usual, and he pass
ed down King street about four o'clock
aud entered the Old Dominion Cigar
Mandatory, which he had been con.
Quoting for some time. He took a seat
at his de>k, attracting no special atten-
ton from the others in the place. Later
it was noticed that he had lapsed into
. remarkably quiet condition, and upon
examination he was found to be
semi.conscious. A bottle labelled
.'Chloral' told the tale ne had swal-
lowed $40 grains, while the usual dose
is ID. As stated above, physicians were
summoned and he was removed to his
bed room in the building. The physi-
clans worked earnestly upon him, but
he never rallied, and gradually sank
until about half past seven o'clock
when his attendants pronounced fe
extinct. The body was removed to the
undertaking establishment of Mr..
Wheatley where it will be prepared for
burial. To-day the remains were taken
to the Masonic Temple, whence
the funeral will take place on Thurs
day afternoon, at S o'clock. Mr.. Cor
bett was "a native of Binghamton, N.
Y, and came to this city in the year
1870. He began business on the east
side of Royal street. between Kings and
Cameron, opening what he called a
"Chinese Tea Store" His store was
neat and attractive and his stock
choice, but the enterprise proved
q failure, and he subsequently
was appointed Deputy Collector
of the Port under Mr.. David Turner,
and he held the same position in sub
seouent years under Mr.. A. A. War.
field. When the latter relinquished
the position of Collector Mr.. Corbett
took charge of the Old Dominion Cigar
Ma~nufacturory, q business in which he
threw most of his energies. He was
also engaged in the manufacture OF
bricks. The deceased had ever been
prominent in the business affairs of the
city, and at one time represented the
Second ward in the Common Council.
He was a past master OF Alexandria
Washington Lodge of Masons, and a
member of Old Dominion Command
cry, knights Templar. Mr.. Corbett
was a ma of considerable means. He
owned a farm in Alexandria county
said to be worth about $4,000. He
possessed property in Washington and
this CITY and owned stock in various
local concerns. For a number OF years
he had had much trouble of a domestic
nature. The suicide of his son recent
~, the sending of his daughter to an
insane asylum and the application for a
divorce by his wife had produced serious
consequences. He undertook to drown
his troubles in stimulauts and drugs
and. as is ever the case, the gloomy
reveries which followed the reaction
made life & burden. Some of his friends
are of the opinion that he did not take
the poison with suicidal intent, as he
was known to have been addicted to its
use, but the threats he had made and
his deplorable mental condition OF late
causes an equal number of his friends
10 adopt the suicide theory. The de-
ceased was about Sc years of age He
was a companionablc gentleman and
much esteemed by all who knew him.
Mrs. Corbett, the wife OF the dead man,
WAS seer at her home in Washington
last evening, but beyond admitting that
she had heard of her husbands death,
she would say very little. She said h
had not e e Mr.. Corbett since last Oc-
tober. She said he had continued to
support her, and that she had finally
concluded to let the divorce suit, re-
Gently instituted, rest. She was under
the impression that business troubles
had caused Mr.. Corbett to take his lie.
Mr.. Corbett left q will in which he d.
rected that his body be cremated. The
remains will accordingly be placed in q
vault to morrow evening, where they
will remain for q few days, after which
they will be sent to Washington and ar
rsngements made for carrying out the
direction OF the deceased.