The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-29
INSPECTOR OF POLICE
VELASQUEz KILLS
HIMSELF.
The Brilliant Young Meaican Officer
Cannot Endure Rem,orss for
Murder.

spector General Of Police Eduardo
Velasques committed suicide in Belem
prison to day F vas 80 years old.
The inspec,,. his brains out with
revolver. BE was proud man. ex-
ceedingly reserved and very ambitious,
his rise frou an humble position
through various posts to the command
of the police having been sufic'eu J,
rapid to attrac. attention to him as a
man of great talent.
Sioce the alleged lypchiog plot was
exposed and he, With other police. was
imprisoned, be has suffered from az in
tense nervous strain He vas subject
ed yesterday TO a long examination ty
Judge Flores. and at the conclusion of
that ordeal on his return to his cell IN
the prison, it was noted be showed
great detection aud anguish of mind.
At IL O'Clock this moraiog
the warden of the prison went TO
call him ae approached the bed and
said in friendly tone, as be kne" the
Eprisoner well. "Come, ny boy. its time
TO get up; the judge wants you"
Receiving 90 answer, he began to
shake the inspector, saying: Don't
be lazy" when he noted that ValasqueS
bad bullet wound iu the right temple.
and on investigating further discovered
small, two. barrel pistol with which
the act had been committed The
muzzle of the pistol had been placed go
close to the temple and pressed into the
skin that it made practically ro nolse
on being discharged. hence the reason of
no report being heard by the guards.
How the pistol reached the prisoner is
under investigation.
The warden Immediately notified tie
judicial authorities. Who went at once TO
the room Of the suicide aud summoned
medical men.
Duriog the afternoon relatives OF the
dead man we're allowed &c enter the
prison, which had been closed TO the
public. The doctors had concluded the
examinatioo aud found that death must
have been instantaneous. the bullet be-
Jog imbedded in the brain.
The body vas dressed and delivered
to relatives.
| A letter was found in the room III
which Velasouez made his statements to
the public, saying his death vas he felt,
the satisfaction he owed to society and
be should therefore give that satisfac-
ton by leaving the world. He also
said that the crime was suggested to him
Dy Inspector Villaviceucio, of the Sec
oad Police station, gho is in prison. Vel
asquez added that ander any other cir
cumstanoes, nothing could have induc-
ed hin to take part in the crime, Hefelt,
it is said, that bis loyalty to the chief
magistrate whose life had been attempt
ed. warraotsd him 10 putsiog Arroyo to
death In fact, be said this repeatedly
yesterday 90 being questioned.
Isis generally felt by his friends tha,
Villaviceocio vas his evil stab. having
fron the time Velaequez became coief
of police, gained a remarkable influence
over him. although be was warned oy
those who had his welfare at heart. to
beware of the man.
zVelasquez had very large acqoaiOs-
aDce, having been employed after leav-
ing college in the department Of fosnce
aud secretary TO the minister of foanoe
At one time be vas connected With the
newspaper Ell Combate and had st ao
early age been elected to congress.
He had effected many reforms during
bis ipcum bency as inspector.