Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Elsie Ha sam Commits Suicide by
Inhaling Illuminating Gas.
NO CAUSE KNOWN FOR Her Rash DEED
Was Found Lying on a Cot in
fier Room.
BODY AT THE MORG U F

Elsie Haslam a prepossessng young
white woman, about twenty-five years Of
age, committed suicide at the residence of
Mrs Hines, S26 18th street northwest, this
morning by turning on the gas in her room
and inhaiing the poisonous vapor. No i'm
mediate cause for the rash act is known.
The girl left a letter addressed to her moth
er, but neglected to put upon the envelope
either the number of her house or the
street on which the mother resides.
Mrs. Hines stated to a Star reporter this
morning that the HasIam girl came to her
house few weeks ago and asked for a
room. She was well recommended giving
the name of a prominent physician of this
city as her reference and stating her occu-
patton to be that of a trained nurse.
nrs. Hines says she MT Sc -.;uch of
the girl; that she was gone during the
better part of the day, and sometimes went
out at night after coming in late in the
afternoon. She had a male friend who
visited her at first at the house, and with
whom she went out with in the evenings
but who has not put in an appearance for
the last week or two. The girl, Mrs.
Hines also stated, appeared to be not in
her right mind at times.
Miss HaSlam came in about 11:30 o'clock
last night and questioned Mrs. Hines as
to where she could get some water, as the
bath room on her floor was undergoing re-
pairs. Mrs. Hines noticed nothing un-
usual in her demeanor or appearance. This
morning she saw a light in the suicdes
room just before daylight. About clock
or few minutes afterward, a roomer on
one of the upper floors in the house left
note with the servant for Mrs. Hines
stating that the gas was escaping very
badly in his room.
Mrs. Hines Immediately investigated the
complaint and found the gas coming from
nf hnr
centric lodger on the first Hoor, and lost
no time in making her way to the door of
her room She found it tightly locked and
Immediately sent the servant for q police
man. Fortunately Policeman Sanford was
on the corner below. and quickly answer
ing the summons and obeying Mrs. Hines
injunction he applied his shoulder to the
panel and forced the door open.
Heavy Flow of Gas.
The flow of gas from the door was terri
bic, but Policeman Sanford made his way
to the windows and opened them. and then
applied water a restorative to the girls
face. Finding that she was unconscious,
however. he left Mrs. Hines and the serv-
ant to apply such remedies as suggested
themselves, while he summoned the Emer-
gsncy Hospital ambulance. Everything
possible was done for the young woman,
but she succumbed to the fatal effects of
the gas at about II 40 o'clock, without re-
gaining consciousness.
The deceased was a brunette of medium
height; rather slender build, and with a
wealth of dark brown hair. When found
she was lying on the cot in her room, in
night robe. Every crack by which the gas
might possibly escape had been tightly
wedged even the keyhole being stopped up
with cotton. So well did the girl make her
preparations for the deed that two paper
hangers, who were working close by her
door, failed to discover the odor until the
door was broken open.
Mrs Hines stated that the girl came to
her house from 1117 / street, where, she
stated, she had to leave on account of the
removal of the family from the house.
s,,.rser. who interviewed several residents
or, that street between 1lth and 18th
! 81 tr..etx but II was learned, further that
the family had moved in order to get rid of