Evening star., 1897-02-10
DEAD IN HIS BED
Joseph De Souter Killed by Inhaling
Gas.
Was PROBABLY an ACCIDENT
The Victim Was Said to Have
Been intoxicated.
HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

In letters of vari-colored paper On the
white-washed wall above a dim:nutive bed
upon which rests me dead body of Joseph
De Souter this afternoon. stands forth the
significant inscription, To-day me; tomor
row you
Illum;nat ting gas ended the life of De
Scuter. He was found dead about III 30
o'clock today in the small hall room oc-
cupjed by him at Coz 9th street. He had
been roomer with Mrs. Charlotte Munck
?. the above number for year and half
asst. and was an orderly and quiet man.
lie was in the habit of indulging in period
ical sprees. however, and was in an ad-
vanced stage of intoxication all day yes
terday- He went to his room last night.
and that was the last seen of him alive. A
Eight was seen in his room as late as 1910
O'clock
Mrs Munck and others in the house no.
tlcei that De Souter did not arise at the
ust al hour this morning, but ascrIbcd the
tardiness TO the supposition that he vas
sleeping of the effects OF the liquor. A
young lady in the house thought it wise
10 look after him. and about l:s0 o'clock
ascended TO the room, which is on the top
story OF the house. AS she approached
she detected the strong Odor of gas The
door was sjar, and on pushing it open
De Souter was seen lying on the he'd, fully
attired. with the exception If his coat.
He was either dead or unconscious, and
his mouth was wide open. The young
lady. after closing the s.opcock of the gas
jet and opening wide the one window of
the room. called for assistance. Mr.. John
Rowland. a young man who lives at the
house. responded. anI on learning the sit
uatIon FASTENED out in quest of physi-
clan, but none could be found in the neigh
borhood. telephone message was then
sent to the Emergency Hospital. and DIR.
Hooe was rapidly drivea to the house in
the hospital ambulance. Dr. Hooe at
hoar turn
faia; futters of the heart, but hat was
all He tried In several ways to restore
the action of the heart. but without sue
cess. ard was compelled 10 pronounce the
man dead. Had a physician been present
half an hour earlier a possibility exists
that life might have been saved.
The coroner was notified. and he VIII un-
doubtedIy give certificate of death from
natural causes, as no indication of suicide
could be discovered. That death was due
to an accident is apparent from the room
door being ajar. No note or letter was
found in the room. Then. again. De Souter
had often expressed a fear of meeting an
untirnely end. The most plausible eXplana-
ton of his death is that while intoxicated
he turned out the light in his room and
fell back on the bed. not possessing suffi-
cient understa nding, owing to his condition.
TO realize that the flow of gas was not ell
tirely checked
The Dead Man.
Mr.. De Souter was native of Belgium,
was sixty-two years of age and had resided
In this city for about forty years He was
employed as shoemaker for the past
twenty-one years by Charles Reinhardt &
Son. 3aS 9Th street. He was considered an
excellent workman. but could not break
himself of the habit of going periodical
sprees He was paid off Saturday evening
last by Mr.. Reinhardt and announced that
he intended to purchase pair of trousers
with portion of his wages. He also COM
m a TUa1 Nf atr1E in oh lrl1 ic
thought that with the idea of easing the
suffering he spent the major part of the
money. not for the troueers, but for drink
De Souter showed signs of intoxication
when he appeared al Mr.. Reinhardts place
Monday. He was sent uptown TO a filters
for the purpose OF getting q pair of shoe
uppers, but failed to return. Mr.. Rein
hardt's mother saw De Souter pass the
was the last seen or heard of him by his
employers until they We're informed Of his
death today by Star reporter
De Souter arose at the usual hour yester-
day morning and went out. He returned
later in the day, which was variance
from his custom, but no notice was taken
of the fact. as 1t was plain that ne man
TaS intoxicated. He went out again in the
afternoon and returned at night, ascending
at once to his room. AS stated, the gas
was noticed lighted therein as late as 1920
o'clock AS soon as he reached his room
DE Souter probably lay on the bed and re-
clined there in drunken stupor Until well
toward daylight. Then, The effects of the
liquor having somewhat worn off, he in all
likelihood aroused himself and had sense
enough TO realize that he should extingu:sh
The liGht- This he did, but failed to stop
the flow of gas.
His Family.
DE Souter was twice married He has
a grown son by his first wife. whose name
Is Joseph De Souter. jr.. and who is now in
Philadelphia. Four years ago he married
widow. who had four children His sec
ond wife became i'll soon after the mar
riage. and, through the assistance of par
ties connected with the Epiphany Mission
on l2th street southwest she was sent Ia
there. She was buried in Congressional
cemetery One of De Souter's step-chil-
dren is Mrs. George f. Stroebel jr the
wife of timer. whose place of business is
at 90J 9th street.
the deceased was religiousIy inclined
and attended regularly the mems meeting.
at the Epiphany Mission A number OF
prominent members of the church took &
deep interest in him.
Beyond his wages. De Souter was withou
means His room was Scantily furnished
and his wardrobe was limited PRACTICAL,
to the clothes on his back. He was a happy
go-lucky individual. having no care for tn,
morrow. Recently. when his employer ad
monished him TO look out for himself h,
replied: "Oh, 1 don't care what happens
II keel over you can bury me in potter.
field
No arrangements regarding the disposi
tion of the body or the funeral were mad,