The times., 1898-02-26
NH. OERMuDY A SUICIDE
The Wel..-Kaown Wash .ngiO u
Lawyer Shoots Himself.
A BULLET NEAR THE HEART
He Fired tie Slot at His Rome
and Death Was Almost Install
taHeous-B Broodt Over His Wi-e's
Ill Health Until 1t Made Hin
Melancholy Ie,t No Word Benind.

John G. Dermody. well-known attor-
ney-at-law committed suicide about
o'clock yesterday afternoon, by shooting
himself through the left breast, at his
residence. No. i55 Florida avenue north
west. The bullet passed near the heart.
Mr.. Dermody was still alive when
found. but expired in few minutes.
Mr.. Dermody bad given no intmation
of his intention to end his life, and left
no note stating why he had committed
the deed.
For a week or more Mr.. Dermody' S
friends state he has been in depressed
mood and semi-melancholy, owing TO the
protracted illness of his wife, to whom he
was greatly attached. Mrs. Dermody,
while not in a dangerous condition, has
been in ill-health for some time, suffer
ing from an ailment which her husband
thought would, sooner or later, end in her
death, and this fact greatly preyed upon
his mind
Mr.. Dermody was at his Office, No. 6l2
F street northwest, yesterday during the
day attending to his business, and went
home shortly before o'clock. Mrs, Der
mody did not complain to him of feeling
any worse than usual, and noticed moth
ing peculiar in her husbands conduct
save that when he came in the house he
had very little to say. He removed his
coat and shoes, and while dinner was be-
ing prepared lay down on a lounge in the
back parlor.
Mrs. Dermody was not in the room and
l,;.-
was supervising the preparations for din
ner, when they We're startled by the
sharp report of pistol shot coming from
the room where Mr.. Dermody lay. Upon
rushing in he was found lying on the
lounge and a smoking pistol, of 3S-cali-
bre. was clutched in his right hand.
Policeman Norris, OF the Eighth pre-
cinct. was passing at the time, and he
was called in. He summoned the Emer-
gency ambulance. Before its arrival,
however, DIR. Henderson was called, but
Mr.. Dermody was dead before the physi-
clan reached him, and the coroner was
notified.
Mr.. Dermody's friends do not attempt
to conceal the fact that he ended his life
voluntarily, but believe that 1t was with
out premeditation, and while he was suf-
fering from temporary alteration of the
mind. They are unable TO assign any
cause for the deed, except as heretofore
stated, on account of the illness OF his
wife.
Mr.. Dermody was twenty-nine years of
age and born in Washington. and was
well known socially and professionally,
and highly regarded He early entered
upon the study of law and graduated
from Georgetown Law College before he
had attained his majority. He was a
member of the class of SO, of which he
was valedictorian. Mr.. Dermody devoted
himself almost exclusively to practice be-
fore the Court of Claims, and was very
successful. and enjoyed a lucrative in
come. He leaves a widow and sRo broth
ers. who are engaged in business in
and a sister.
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral, but they will be an
nounced this morning.
Coroner Carr, after being advised of the
case, made an investigation, and issued
a certificate of death from suicide.