The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-31
Shot Himself to Death in His
Bathroom.
DESPONDENCY THE CAUSE
Left His Brother Officers Last Even
ing in Apparently Good Spirits
Told His Wife He Nns Feeling
Bad, But Made No Sign ef His
Awful Purpose.

Policeman John D. Sutton, of the
| tective at the Twelfth Street Station
committed suicide at his home, No 134
Massachusetts avenue northeast, about
| 7:45 o'clock last night. by shooting him
self through the right temple. His death
was instantaneous
For some time past Mr.. Sutton had
been detailed for day duty with the pa
| troll wagon at No. s. Lieut.. Kenney gave
him that assignment because of his fall
ing health, as he had long been suf-
ferer from catarrh of the stomach, asth-
this combination of disorders is believed
to have caused him to end his life
He appeared to be in his usual cheer
| ful frame of mind while on duty yester-
day. and before leaving the stationhouse,
about 8 O'Clock last evening, he spoke
| pleasantly to Lieut.. Kenney and added
| Goodbye, lieutenant; l will see you
| tomorrow"
| He had never, by word or action indi-
| Gated that he intended to end his life,
and his friends believe he committed the
| act on the impulse of the moment, while
| brooding over his condition.
When he reached his cozy home a
| few minutes after o'clock. Mr. Sutton
| greeted the family in his usual kindly
manner, and ate his dinner. He then
| went upstairs, lighted his pipe stretched
| himself on the bed and complained of
| feeling badly.
| Mrs. Sutton tried to comfort him and
| suggested that he play a few games of
| euchre with her, as had been his almost
| nightly custom. He declined TO do so on
| the ground that ne was not feeling well
| enough to enjoy the game She then of
| feTed 10 prepare a dose of nervine for
him which he had been taking to induce
| sleep. lie also declined TO take the medi-
| cine.
Mrs. Sutton went down stairs and he
| entered the bathroom on the second floor.
| A few minutes later the report of pistol
| rang through the house and one of Mr.
| SuttOn's sons who was standing at the
| head of the stairs, fell nearly all the way
| TO the first floor. The shot attracted Mr.
| c. II. Smith, who lives next door. and he,
| with Mr.. Herman G.. Munson a member
| of the Fourth Artillery, who was calling
| on Mrs. SuttOn's sister, ran up stairs and
| finding the bathroom door locked. broke
| ii open. They found Policeman Sutton in
| sitting posture, a revolver in his hand
and his head bowed between his knees.
| There was a bullet wound in his right
| temple from which a stream of blood
1
| and Drs. Storch and Davidson arrived
| quickly, but found Mr., Sutton was dead.
The body was removed to an adjoining
| room and Coroner Carr arrived within an
hour, and gave a certificate of suicide.
| The pistol with which the policeman
shot himself was not his official weapon,
but a smaller revolver which he kept in
| his house.
Mr.. Sutton leaves a widow and two
| children-Eugene. aged thirteen, and Ed
| ward, nearly fifteen years old. About
| sixteen years ago he married Miss Mary
| Bresnahan, and a few months Ia -er be-
| came a member Of the police force He
was born in North Carolina, and was
| forty-four years of age.
Policeman Sutton was a cool, intrepid
| policeman, and while a detective he made
| many important cases, especially against
| professional thieves and other crooked
| characters. His last noted exploit was to
save the life of Police Lieutenant Amiss
when George McCauey, a noted burglar
| and all-around thief, pulled his pistol
| and tried 10 shoot him on Louisiana Ave
| nue.. McCauley was overpowered, and is
| now serving long term in the peniten-
| tiary for that offense The dead police
| man was affectionately called ''Sut" by
his comrades. and had many warm
friends, both citizens and police.