The morning times., 1897-02-25
SUICIDE OF AN ENGINEER
Free Crawford Swallowed an
ounce of CarbOIic Acid.
DESPONDENT FROM ILLNESS
The Fatal Drug Taken in the Room
OF His Daughter-Had just Re-
turned from Visit to Pittsburg.
The Deceased Well known In This
City-Funeral Arrangements.

free :. Crawford, an engineer ct the
Builders Exchange, on Thirteenth street,
between 6 and II streets, committed sui
eide about 6 O'Clock last night by drink
ing an ounce OF carbolic acid, at the rooms
OF his daughter, Mrs. Grimes, in the board
ing house OF j. p Lawrence, No. 735
Thirteenth street. northwest. His body
WAS discovered about an hour later by
Mrs. Grimes. Dependency and i'll nealth
are the motives assigned for the deed.
Mr. Crawford was fifty nine years old
and widower. He came To this city from
Pittsburg about twelve years ago, and dur
ing the past nine years he had been eIIi-
ployed as chief engineer at the Builders
Exchange. He was formerly engineer at
the Hotel Langham, on the corner OF Four
teenth and Fl streets, when that house was
first opened. A month ago he secured
leave OF absence, and welt to his OLD home
to visit friends and relatives, including a
sister and daughter. Several days since he
returned. and before again going to work
stayed until yesterday morning with an
other daughter, Mrs. Wolf at No. lib q
street northwest
About 4 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
he came to the boarding house of Mr..
Lawrence and went to his daughters
rooms Oh the thild floor. He complained
or feeling i'll and asked to lie down. He
said he feared fIom his ailments
that he was thTeatened with pneu-
nonla, and seemed more depressed than
usual. When dinner was ready he was
asked 10 join with the rest OF the family,
but refused, saying that lie did rot feel
like eating. Mrs. Crimes recognized that
her father was not in his usual good
spirits, and left the Old gentleman alone
in her room while she went out upon
some errands and also to summon DR.
Middleton.
II was about 5 o'clock when she left
the house and an hour and a half later she
returned Upon repairing to her rooms
she found her father dead in her bed
His body was still warm, and Mrs. Grimes
at first thought that he had fallen asleep.
Not until she had made an attempt 10
arouse him did she discover that life
was extinct. There was no evidence OF
any death struggle, and the old man had
evidently passed away peacefully. On u
stand short distance from the bed sat
an ounce phial containing e only few drops
of oarbolic acid. The druggists label
had been roughly scratched Off, so that
the name OF the pharmacy could not be
discovered.
The suicide had carefully planned his
deed, and had taken an opportune moment
when theSe was no one ABOUT to carry 1t
out. He had removed his clothing, and
carefully placed it upon a chair near the
bedside He then laid down and quietly
awaited the end. Dr.. Middleton arrived
few moments later, but could render no
assistance as the man had been dead for
some time before his daughter made the
discovery.
The friends OF the dead man were sum
moned, and q telephone message sent to
Coroner HamuIeGs. Upon his arrival, in
company with Sergt. Acton, the two made
a careful investigation OF the surroundings,
the result OF which left no doubt that Mr.
Crawford had taken his own life. Dr.
Hammett examined the body and found
that the man's tongue and the inside OF
his mouth had been badly burned by the
poison. No note or written word of eX
planation was found about the room, and
general despondency and threatened i'll
health are the only motives that could
be assigned by the family last night.
Mr.. Crawford had always been of O
| cheerful disposition, and it was understood
| that his recent visit to Pittsburg was a
pleasant one. but there was presumably
something preying upon the old gentle
mans mind the nature of which he did
| not make known'to his daughters. DR..
| Middleton gave certificate of death from
| carbolic acid poisoning. taken with suicidal
| intent, which was approved by DIR. Ham
| NETT, and permission was given to the
| relatives to remove the body to Under
taker Geyer's establishment. The funeral
| will be held from the residence of his
| daughter. Mrs. Wolf, No. 1113 G street
| northwest. Mr.. era wford was quite we'll
known in certain circles. and highly spoken
| of as a man of good character and temper.
| ate abits.