Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-21
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
Abraham Bildman Sufocates Him
self With Illuminating Gas.
Was A SUFFERER FROM MELANCHOLIA
Details Of Suicide Carefully Planned
in Advance.
BROODED OVER TROUBLES

After suffering for many months from
melancholia Abraham Bildman, young
9TH street clothing merchant. finally deter
mined last night that life was no longer
worth the living. The depression conse-
quent upon a morbid condition of the mind
had broken the unfortunate mans once
stalwart constitution and he was in Ill
health.
Shortly after o'clock this morning Bid
man was found dead in a room the at
mosphere OF which was laden with poison
Gus Illuminating gas. He lived with his
wife and two small children in apartments
directly over his place Of business, 1915
7th street. Complaining that the prattle
of his children grated upon his over
wrought nerves. and that they worried him
UNNECESSARILY when he endeavored to take
restful sleep. Bildman last night informed
his wife he would retire in the spare bed
room. No special significance was attached
to this statement at the time but this
morning when his wife went to arouse him
she realized only too well the full force
and meaning of her husbands decision to
sleep alone.
The dead man kissed his wife good night
a little after II o'clock last night and went
into the chamber usually reserved for
company. From subsequent results 1t
would seem that this was a detail of the
plan of suicide he had arranged carefully
and completely. Closing the windows
tightly and fastening the door, he turned
on a full jet of gas and lay down upon the
bed for what proved to be his last earthly
slunber Mrs. Bildman retired with her
children and thought no mere of her hus-
bands action in absenting himself from
his usual apartment. She knew of his de-
pressed condition and had often heard him
speak of life as a trivial thing. not TO
be especially beloved. She had no idea he
ever contemplated suicide
The Wffe's Discovery.
Mrs. Bildman went to cali her husband,
as usual, this morning. When he did not
respond to her summons from the hall she
opened his door. The odor and the pros
trate form on the bed told their awful
story cruelty and bluntly to the unpre-
pared wife. Mrs. Bildman rushed down
stairs to the street and summoned aid
Officer Fathers of the second precinct re-
sponded. A physician living near by was
quickly brought, but when he arrived he
found that Mr.. Ridman was dead. The
doctor declared death had ensued some
hours prior to the discovery of the BODY
officer Fathers made a report at the Sec
ond precinct station house and afterward
notified the coroner
Mr.. Bildman had been in the clothing
business on upper 18th street for several
years. He was d young man, having re-
Gently celebrated his twenty-seventh birth
day. In spite of his youth, however, he
continually complained of the vanity of
life He was devoid of ambition and had
many times declared he was Indifferent to
everything worldly Bidman recently call
ed upon Il physician to whom he was indebt-
ed. Proffering the money and pocketing
the receipt, he said
mental torture. There was a time when l
worried over business affairs, but that is
past now. l don't care even for life any
more
rha NIL jr1ln md
could see the future only through the blu
est of spectacles.
How is business with you?" questioned
the physician.
Il am making a good living. doctor, but
no money aside from that replied Bid
man.
Receives Advice.
The young man was advised some months
ago to give up his business-to sell out and
take course of treatment in a sanitarium
He was told he would there be built up
physically and mentally and would soon
take a different view of life. This advice
was repeated upon the occasion of the
above interview. Mr.. Bidman said he was
thinking seriously over the matter but
had not come to any conclusion ..
After this Bildman continued to suffer
from the blues as he termed his afflc-
ton of melancholia- His wife and friends
did everything in their power to cheer him
up but to no avail. He continued to talk
upon the morbid subject of Indifference to
life, and moved about with knitted brows
that denoted his disordered mental condi-
ticn.
IF ever there was a case of melancholia
this was one said the family physician
this morning. THE worthlessness of life
was mania with him. and seemed to be
the sole subject occupying his mind He
had come to the point where business af-
fairs had no interest for him, and he left
the management of his store almost en-
tirely to clerks"
The coroner gave a certificate of death
IN accordance with the facts developed