Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-19
Aaron Brunn Meets Death in the
Potomac River.
JUMPED FROM TEE LONG BRIDGE
Believed He Was at the Time
Mentally Deranged.
a NAN WITH MANY FRIENDS


men in fraternal society circles in this city,
was drowned in the river off the Long
bridge between 10 ard II O'Clock this
morning. Although no one saw him when
he actually went into the water, the crew
of the police boat who recovered his body
are satisfied he committed suicide. For
tunatey. the police boat came along be-
meath the bridge soon after the drowning.
and his body was secured before it could
be washed away down the river.
Mr. Brunn was nearly scventy-two years
Old. He had been active all his life. AMI
his physical vigor led many to believe he
was a much younger man. He was ut his
Office. No. 80 + street, this morning. as
usual. and when lie left he said he was go
Ing to the bank. Instead of doing so, how
ever. he went to the Long bridge. He had
lost no time reaching there. sfor his watch
stopped at exactly 1920 O'Clock. the hour
at which he must have jumped into the
river. At the hour he is supposed 10 have
reached the Long bridge the rain was pour
ing down.
He nat colored man named William
Bradley on the way. and inquired of HIM:
What river is this? singular question
when I is considered he had lived here
for many years. and had frequently been on
the river boats.
This = the Potomac river the colored
man responded, and the elderly man who
direction of jackson City.
Another pedestrian who was on the
bridge al the time. saw him stop and lower
his umbrella. which he placed against the
rail. Observing this the man paid no more
attention to him.
Saw Him Struggling.
A few minutes later the co!ored man,
Bradley saw Mr.. Brunn struggling in the
water.
I'd n
and although the rain was still pouring
down q small crowd soon collected. No one
then ventured into the water. however, to
save the life, and in few seconds all was
over. The man who had seemingly made
a desperate struggle for life sank beneath
the surface. and was seen no more:
white straw hat and two lead pencils float
ed about in the water. the former being
recovered by some one who went out in
boat.
One of the members of the crew of the
police boat picked up the pencils and the
umbrella was also turned over to him.
While those in the small boats Were out
searching for the dead body the patrol boat
came along The graphing irons were
soon in the water. and the body was re-
covered shortly thereafter and placed in
the boat.
4 large red bank book in the dead mans
pocket attracted the attention of those on
the wharf. and his reddish gray Inustache
and hair We're noted. A button in the
lapel OF his coat and an emble of the
American Legion of Honor on his vest
showed that he was a member of fraternal
societies. but 1t was not until the harbor
masters wharf was reached and the body
was taken ashore that the name of the
drowned man was learned. II was dis
covered on the Legion of Honor emblem.
and revealed his identity. Cards bearing
his name and the number of his house and
lis office address were found in mis- Iock-
cts.
Held in High Esteem.
Arrangements were made for the removal
of the body to the morgue. and his wife
and Acting Coroner Glazebrook were noti-
fled.
The deceased was loved and respected
by all who knew him, and among his
friends no one could be found who could
assign any cause for the taking of his own
life.
II Is thought however, that his mind had
become suddenely affected. and that he
was insane when he jumped from the
bridge 1t is thought unlikely that he
could have accidentally fallen into the
river, for 1t was found to be necessary for
one to climb over the high rail in order to
have been in danger of such an accident.
Then, again. there was no known reason
why he should have gone over on the
bridge during the severe rain storm. The
fact that he inquired the name of the river
his fri .nds think. shows that he was not
in his light mind for he knew the river as
well almost does any other person in
the -i-y. Up to short time ago the de-
ceased had been in excellent health, but
las week he was sick. and Saturday he
remained at home.
In several of the societies of which he
was member he held important positions
and handled large sums of money but no
one suspects that there was anything
wrong in his accounts Such thing his
Curved. Tor they regarded him as an hon
ordbie and upright man in every way. He
mad handled funds for many of them, but
never was there a discrepancy in his ac-
counts.
Appeared to BE ms Usual.
Thts morning when he went to the office
TO attend TO his duties as insurance COL
lector aud also TO see to the Business per-
tanning to his fraternIl societies. he was
in apparently good health and spirits, and
showed TO signs of conte nplating suicide
He did not remain at the office very long
leaving there a few minutes before 10
O'Clock TO go TO the bank, as before stated.
III not be gone long" was his remark.
as he walked out the door
When the news OF his death reached the
Office ii proved TO be a terrible shock to
his friends who were there. When given
time 10 reflect they all said " could scarce
~ Dt DOSSIDie lndt the dCt was COnter-
plated when he left the Office but think II
was the result CT sudden change in the
condition of his mind
Ihe news was almost more than his
wife could stand. the sudden and shock
ing ending of their happy union being very
nearly CROUCH to break her heart
Inc deceased was native OF GERMANY
put mad come 10 this country when he was
quite young. His wife was very Young
when they We're married, being several
years his Junior
In Fraternal Circles.
In fraternal societies no one was known
better than the deceased, and the MANY
responsible positions which he has filed
shows the high esteem in which he was
held.
He was Royal Arch Mason and a mem
Der Of the American Legion of Honor. as
well as having been connected with other
organizations. and members of the organ
izations say 1t will be no easy matter 10
nil the positions made vacant by his death.
Instead of being taken to the moIgue the
body was sent to J. William Lees under
taking establishments. and will be prepared
for burial when Acting Coroner GIaZebrook
probably take place from the late home of
the deceased, No. 80 Missouri avenue. The
deceased left no children.
IeIx Mt Ret