Evening star., 1898-07-20
Unknown Man Kills Himself at Base
Of Hancock Statue.
DESTROYED MEANS Oh IDENTIFICATION
Belief That Lack Of Money Caused
the RASH Act.
STORY OF A STRANG GER

A man apparently about thirty five years
old. about whose identity there is consid-
cradle uncertainty, committed suicide about
L O'Clock this morning by shooting himself
through the head, while he was seated on
the base of the Hancock statue at Penn
sylvania avenue and 7th street. A man
who was near him at the time of the shoot
Ing went to the Emergency Hospital,
where the wounded man was taken and
told DIR. Fife that the suicides name was
Frank Frazier, plumber, who lived at
the Slater House, corner of I'd and b
streets northwest. Who the man Is who
identified him is not known, but it is said
no plumber named Frazier had lived at
the Slater House Frank Kraemer.
plumber does live there, and his relatives
were greatly worried when they heard of
the affair, thinking there had been a mis-
take made in the name. Kraemer, how
ever, was in the hotel asleep at the hour
mentioned.
Policeman Miller of the first precinct was
at Market space and Sth street when he
heard the report of the pistol shot. He
ran over to the statue and reached there
just as the fatally wounded man fell to
the grass and dropped the pistol from his
hand. cab was called and he was taken
to the Emergency Hospital. DR.. Fife ex-
amined the wound and soon announced
that there was no hope of recovery. The
patient was then conscious but made no
response when asked for his name. About
4 o'clock this morning he died.
Said He Had Been Drinking.
The man who claimed to have known him
told the doctor that the wounded man had
been drinking, but the doctor failed to find
any evidence of whisky on him. Indeed, he
is certain that the man had not been drink
ing.
1t is thought that lack of means caused
the attempt at self-destruction, for the
stranger had but one cent in his pocket.
He had probably pawned his watch, for
there was no umepiece attached to his
chain. Besides the watch chain, the man
had a pocket knife, notebook, key and
the cent in his pockets. There was also
a spectacle case found on him, from which
the name of the seller had been cut 1t
was believed that the notebook had con-
tanned something which might have been
the means of identifying the owner but
most of the leaves had been torn out On
one leaf was written New Jersey avenue
and G street., and near the bottom of the
leaf he had written Indiana avenue" In
quiries were made. at hotels and lodging
houses near the vieinities referred to, but
no one was found who. could give any in
formation about the dead man.
Above.Left Ear.
The bullet entered his head above the left
ear. He had pressed the muZZle of the
weapon against the brim of his soft hat so
that the ball passed through both the brim
and the bard before entering his head.
The deceased wore dark suit of clothes
and pair of tan shoes. He had on a blue
checked outing shirt with white standing
collar and white fedora hat. What little
hair he had was dark, while his mustache
was sandy. His face has the appearance
Of having been sunburned. The police be-
Heve the man did not live here.
No One Able to Identity.
Coroner Carr made an investigation of
the case and had the body removed to
Lees undertaking establishment A num-
Der of people viewed the body today, but no
one was able to give any information which
would assist the police in their efforts to
have the body identified. - 'a