The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-25

1
spector General OF Police Eduardo We
lasquez, at the early age of thirty-two
years, lies tonight corpse, having ia
ken his life in Belem prison at about
half-past o'clock. The inspector blew
his brains out with revolver. He was
a proud man, exceedingly reserved,
rarely being known to smile and very
ambitious, his rise from humble posi-
ton through various posts to the COM
mand of the police having been sufiici-
emily rapid 20 attract attention to him
as a man Of great talent.
Since the alleged iynching plot was
exposed and he, with other police, was
imprisoned, he has shown a marked
change, being extremely reticent and ev-
identity suffering from an intense ner-
vous strain. He was subjected yester-
day to a long examination by Judge
Flores, and at the conclusion OF that
ordeal on his return TO his room in that
prison 1t was noted he showed great de-
lection and anguish of mind. He had al
ways been in the habit Of retiring late
and in prison kept up his custom, retlr-
ing about o'clock except when his
presence was required by the judge.
Last night he retired late and at II
o'clock this morning the warden OF the
| prison went to call him. The warden
went to the bedside OF Velasquez and
said In friendly tone, as he knew the
prisoner well: Come, my boy, it's time
to get up; the Judge wants you"
Receiving no answer he began 10
shake the inspector saying, Don't be
lazy" when he noted that Veiasquez
had bullet wound in the right tenn
pie and on Investigation further found
a small, two barreled pistol with which
the act had been committed. The wea-
pom was small one. The muzzle OF the
| pistol had been placed so close to the
temple and pressed Into the skin that II
! practically made no noise on being dis
charged, hence the reason OF no report
being heard by the guards. How the pis-
tol reached the prisoner is under inves-
tigatlon, and certain person Is sus-
pected The body lay In perfectly
natural position, one arm thrown across
the DOuy anu tue eyes were tfVSt3 anu
the face perfectly tranquil
The warden Immediately notified the
judicial authorities, who went at once to
the room OF the suicide and summoned
medical men. Judge Flores remarked
that he had given the strlctest orders to
prevent Velasquez attempting suicide;
that he had carefully watched him and
every precautIon had been taken to
A. A
authorities were inclined TO censure
Colonel Campuzo the warden.
During the afternoon relatives OF the
dead man were allowed to enter the
prison, which had been closed to the
public. The doctors had concluded the
examination and found that death must
have been instantaneous. the bullet be-
ing embedded in the brains. Judging by
the temperature of the stomach, the
physicians came to the conclusion that
the act must have been committed
| about 9:30 n. m. The body was dressed
aud delivered to relatives.
A letter was found in the room In
] which he made his statements to the
| public, saying his death was, he felt,
the satisfaction he owed to society and
| should therefore, give that satisfaction
by leaving the world. He also said that
the crime was suggested by Inspector
Villa Vacenclo, Of the second police dis
trict, who is In prison. VelasRaez added
that under other circumstances not hav-
ing been high official authority, moth
ing could have induced him to take part
In the crime. He felt, It is said, that
his loyalty to the chief magistrate
whose life had been attempted, war
ranted him in putting Arroyo TO death.
In fact, he said this repeatedly yes
terday on being questioned. It Is gener-
ally felt by his friends that villa Va
cenclo was his evil star, having from the
time Velasque2 became chief OF police,
! gained remarkable influence over him,
| although he was warned by those who
had his welfare at heart. to beware Of
the man.
Vclasqucz had very large acquulnt-
ance, having been employed after lenv-
ing college In the department Of finance
| and was secretary TO the minister Of
finance. AZ one time he was connected
with the newspaper III Combate. md
had at an early age been elected TO
Congress- He had effected many re-
forms during his lncumbcncy OF lnspec-
tor.
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