Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-12
BY HIS o w N HAN D
Charles E. Gibbs Ends His Life While
Despondent.
Used a Revolver-Was Well Known In
Hotel and Business
Circles.


been in the hotel business in this city. COM
mitted suicide yesterday afternoon at the
home of his sister, Mrs. Isabella Crandall,
No. 90S Virginia avenue southwest. The
deed was committed with 32-caliber re-
volver. the bullet entering his left temple.
He was hurried to the Emergency Hospital
in the hospital ambulance, in hopes of saw
ing his life by prompt treatment but the
bullet had made wound that was neceS-
sarily fatal. The piece of lead had pene-
trated the brain and in a few minutes after
reaching the hospital death claimed the I'M
fortunate man. Business reverses and the
loss of his wife had made the popular hotel
man Respondent during recent months, and
some people who knew him best feared
that he would end his earthly trouble in
this way. Since the death of his wife he
has lived with his children at the home of
his sister. At times he was very much de-
pressed IN spirits because of his gloomy
financial outlook and at other times his re-
newed hopes made him appear as he was
during his more prosperous days. 1t was
shortly after o'clock yesterday afternoon
when he returned to his home. His sister
was attending to her household duties
downstairs when he entered the house, and.
as she supposed, went to his room. He had
been there only few minutes when his
sister was startled by hearing the report of
pistol. She could hardly realize that the
SnOC nau Deen HreU IN ner mouse, out Sne
thought she would investigate and satisfy
herself about 1t. Going upstairs she no
ticed smoke coming from the door of her
room. and reaching the door she saw her
brothers PROSTATE form stretched upon her
bed. Beside him lay the smoking revolver.
Blood was squirting from hole in his left
temple. Fully realizing that the wound
was a serious one, the sisters only hope
was that there was still signs of life in the
body, although the wounded man was I'M
conscious and could not respond when she
called to him. DR.. Perkins was hastily
summoned, and he saw at a glance that
fatal wound had been inflicted.
There was nothing that could be done for
the patient. He was not aware of ply
steal pain and he had but a few hours to
live at the most. In order that everything
possible might be done the hospital am
bulance was summoned, and, already
stated, he was taken to the Emergency
Hospital, where he soon died. The skin
and hair about the wound were scorched,
and the condition of the skin showed that
the weapon had been pressed against his
head. Coroner Carr called at the hospital
soon after death claimed the patient, and
gave a certificate of death from self
inflicted wound An undertaken then re-
moved the body from the hospital.
Active Career.
The deceased. who was forty-one years
old, was a native of Washington, and had
lived here all his life. He was connected
years, then as one of it's proprietors and
later becoming proprietor of Wormley's
Hotel He met many of the most promi-
nent men in the country and made a host
of friends. He was also well known in
sporting circles and many are left to
mourn his loss. When he was quite young
man he entered the Office of Starkweather
& Ploughman, architects, and afterward
worked at this business. When he found
business little dull he accepted a posi-
ton clerk in the cigar store of w. E.
Chandlee, in the Ebbtt House. From the
store he entered the Ebbitt House as a
clerk. He succeeded Mr.. B. w. Frazier
cashier of the hotel, and his excellent
service and his knowledge of hotel affairs
won for him the confidence of his employer
Later he became one of the proprietors of
the hotel Desiring to enter business alone
he withdrew from the partnership with Mr..
Burch and invested his money in the Hotel
Wormley. This venture proved a failure,
and Mr.. Gibbs left the business financially
ruined. Since then Mr.. Gibbs has been in
several minor business enterprises, but the
work of regaining what he had lost was
not an easy task. Four years ago his wife
died, leaving him with three daughters
He was well known in business and fra
ternal society circles. At the time of his
death he was a member of Almas Temple
Lodge, No. Z, F. A. A. NJ. He was also
prominently identified with the Ancient
Order of United Workmen. Many mem
bers of the different societies with which
he was connected called at the hospital
yesterday afternoon, well as at the late
home of the deceased, and rendered their
services
Funeral Arrangements.
DIR. j. E. Walsh, representing Lebanon