The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-17
SHOT To END HIS LIFE
Aged Musician Called Witness
to See Him Die.
LETTER WHICH DOES NOT EXPLAIN
j. :. Eekford Wrote that He Recognized
No God. and His Reasons for Wanting to
Die Were Sobody's Observation-Disclosures ed
His Papers in a Saloon and Threw Away
Money-Physicians Believe that He Has
Good Chance of Recovery.


Special 70 The Post.
Cumberland, Md, April l4-P-of. J. s.
Eckford, OF Portsmouth, Va, about sixty
five years old. shot himself through the
head on the street here to-day. He was
removed TO the jail. and tonight there
are hopes of his recovery.
Eckford is a professor Of music and
piano tuner. He dresses well and wears
flowing white beard. He stood nearly
two hours this morning with his hat of
at the place he shot himself. While stand
ing in front of Mr. SWaTtZwelder's house
Prof. EckfOrd called TO the latter TO 20
and stand by a tree nearby. Mr.. Swartz-
welder wanted 10 know why he shoUd
do so. Eckford replied: Il want you 10
witness something; / am going to Eill
myself At the same time he drew Te-
volver. Dr. Richard Gerstell, who came
along, heard part of the conversation.
and said: For Gods sake, man, don't do
anything like that" and at the same
time proceeded TO move toward the aged
man. as If to disarm him.
Eckford told him at once TO stand back
or he would kill him. DR.. Gersteh With
drew. and then Eckford fired and fell 10
the pavement EckfOrd was carried TO
the jail bleeding, but not unconscious.
Eckford was resting well tonight, his
pulse and temperature being normal ana
his condition rational he was smoking
pipe. and now and then would repeat thal
ne was a Virginia gentleman Folr
physicians consulted and decided 20
trephne the skull in the morning at the
Western Maryland Hospital where he VIII
be removed. in order to find the bullet.
After the shooting Eckford positively re-
fused to give particulars concerning him
self. His satchel and trunk We're search
ed at his boarding house, and in the lat
ter were found fine linen, piano tuners
tools, Knights of Pythias buttons, and
other articles On top of the clothes was
d note. which read as follows:
''The reasons for my killing myself are
EobOdy's business. From customary Gu
riOsity people NEEDLE and inquire into
things that concern them not. Let the
law take its course, / am solely and only
responsible for being dead. l recognize
no God, for there is none. The few ap-
purtenances L have will certainly defray
my board expenses at the Porter House"
Eckford came TO Cumberland a few days
ago from Wheeling. He talked at the iaij.
telling of his birth in France, his service
in the Confederate Army under Jeb
- 'i4A VI MS SHOOtllS man III
portsmouth last summer. for which he
was fined He avOws he will yet Kill him
self, stating that yesterday he wrote his
wife of the deed done to-day His family.
he says, is in comfortable circumstances.
This morning, in a saloon, he destroyed
all his papers and he threw his money, q
gOodly roll, into the creek. Doctors say
there are good chances of recovery.
T. NJ Mllllson, aged about ffty-fiVe
years, wealthy mill owner of Spring
field. Hampshire County, w. Va. whose
wife obtained d divorce from him a feW
days ago, after four years litigation, was
married here last night to Miss Elizabeth
Randall Millison, his brothers widow
The Pennsylvania passenger train leaV-
ing here in the afternoon ran into an
open switch at Mount Dallas and Engin-
eer Thomas Wolfkill died tonight from
injuries received.