Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-15
ATTEM PTED SUICIDE
David Garnett's Wife Left Him and He
Took Dose Of Poison.
A Coupe Ride That Ended i'm Tragic
Freedmen's Hospital.

This afternoon David Garrett. colored,
twenty-five years old, attempted suicide by
swallowing some carbolic acid. He was
in coupe with a friend named Henson
Mitchell at the time, and when the latter
noticed that Garnett was unconscious he
had him driven to the eighth precinct sta
ton. Lieut.. Kenney. realizing the serious
ness of the mans condition, had him re-
moved to Freedmen's Hospital in the am
bulance. and, fearing Garrett would die.
he locked Mitchell UP as a witness to APP
pear before the coroner's jury should SUCH
service be rendered necessary.
The unfortunate man has been in the
employ of DR.. j. Ford Thompson for a
number of years and has always been a
trusted servant. While nothing could be
learned of the cause of Garnett's act whe Il
he reached the station, the police learned
later in the day that his wife had left
him. and this. it was thought, caused the
feeling that life was not worth living
Nelson Mitchell is employed as driver
at the Arlington stables, where Dr. Thomp-
sons team is kept. and it was at this sta
BILE that the men met this afternoon.
Let go down the street and get d
drink. Garnett said to Mitchell when they
met at the stable, and the latter accepted
the invitation.
Going from the stable they met a colored
man driving coupe, and Garnet pro-
posed ride. This was satisfactory to his
friend. and they got in the vehicle
Will you go over to McGramm's and
get me bottle OF whisky asked Gar
Eett of the driver. He gave the latter the
money. and he got the liquor.
Announced HIS Intention.
Before the vehicle started away Garnett
made the remark that he intended taking
a dose of carbolic acid. Both Mitchell and
the driver tried to persuade him that he
cCu milf Sh nv fol ba
poison. Together they started away, after
they had taken one drink, and the driver
was instructed 10 drive to 14th AMI L
streets.
On the way up 18th street Garnett took
from his pocket q small bottle which 1t
is supposed contained carbolic acid After
drinking the contents of the bottle he
swallowed some of the whisky and soon
became unconscious.
Mitchell became frightened at the con-
ditfon of his friend and hurried him 20 the
police station. Garnet was assisted to the
office, where he fell to the floor as If he
vas under the influence Of liquor. Some Of
the officers thought the man was only in
toxicated, while others felt certain that he
was dying. The odor of carbolic acid was
80 strong that there was no doubt about
his having taken dose of the poison, and,
as already stated, the patient was hurried
to the hospital.
still Unconscious.
Inc physicians found that his condition
was extremely critical. They applied the
stomach pump. but no evidence Of carbolic
acid was to be found. There was not the
terrible excorbation of the mouth that
usually follows in such cases, and the doc
tors concluded that if he had really taken
the acid must have been diluted.
Several of the hospital physicians and
nurses worked on the patient, but at a
late hour this afternoon he had not re-
covered consciousness.
A member of DR.. Thompson's family call
ed at the police station when he heard Of
what Garrett had DONE and later he went
to the hospital to see him. While Gar
netts condition Is critical and it Is believed
he will die, there is a possibility that he
will recover.
Nel'on Mitchell. who is held in custody
as fitness. said to Il Star reporter that
ne hal no idea his friend was going to
take the carbolic acid, although he had so
stated. When he realized that he had
actually taken the poison he was frighten-
ed. AT the time Garnett swallowed the
poison he said he CMitchelD was looking
out the window. His friend threw the
empty bottle away just as ne turned his
head. and then he took drink Ct the
whisky.