Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-23
KILLED HIMSELF.
w. #. RattisHu OF PittsburR, Pa, Commit,
Suicide at his Boardinshouse, In Thi,
City, by lnnaiing Gas.

W. #. Rattigau OF Pittsburg, Pa, Commits
Suicide at his Boardinshouse, In This
City, by lnnaiing Gas.
w. +. Rattigan, aged between 40
and 40 years of age, who is supposed
to have come from Pittsburg, Pa,
committed suicide early ON Friday
by inhaling Illuminating gas at the
boardinghouse of Mrs. Mary III. Cam,
No. 521 West Sixth street. where he
had been living since Tuesday. No
cause can be assigned for tho deed, AS
when he retired at about midnight he
appeared to be in good spirits and had
said nothing around the house that
would arouse suspicion. Rattigan was
employed as a laborer in the shipyards
of the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.,
and was at work there Thursday after
noon. Thursday night he ate supper as
usual at his clearinghouse and went
out. He returned about midnight, and
after turning the gas lights out in the
Railways went to his room on the third
floor. Nothing was sean or heard of
him Friday morning, and at O'Clock,
the people in the house becoming sus-
picious, broke in the door of the room
and found Rattigan lying in bed, and
on closer investigation it was apparent
that life was extinct. 1t was suspected
as soon as the people entered the room
that the man was dead as there was a
strong odor of illuminating gas.
Rattigan had evidently gone to his
room, and after donning his sleeping
costume, turned ON the gas jet and
also the gas stove, after which he went
to bed to await death. After the door
was opened DIR. Smith Cooper was
notified aud went to the house. He
pronounced life extinct
A message was sent to Coroner Van
deyer's office and his deputy, Ferris
Giles, removed the body to the morgue
and began an investigation. A knife,
empty pocketbook and some keys and
papers were found in the pockets Of
the deceased. He WAS identified by a
letter which had been written by his
mother, Mrs. #. E. Rattigan of Pitts
burg, Pa. The letter was dated March
9Th, and there was nothing in the
letter, so far as can be discovered, to
cause the man to take his life. 1t was
such a letter as a loving mother writes
to a son at a distance.
Rattigan evidently came to this city
about the first of the year and soon
after his arrival obtained employment
with the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.,
where he had worked until the time OF
his death. Until Tuesday week he had
boarded in the vicinity of Second and
West streets, but changed his boarding,
house for the purpose of having q room
to himself. Mrs. Cam, with whom he
boarded at the time of his death, is
very particular about the people who
come to board with her, and questioned
Rattigan very closely before taking hin
to board. He appeared like quiet
unassuming man, and, SO far as j:
| known, was temperate.
He was on duty Thursday at thu
Harlan & Hollingsworth shipyards ant
assisted the mon who were attending
to matters pertaining to the launch o
| the Nantucket.
Deceased was evidently Catholic
as prayerbook and rosary were fount
among his effects and he had in hi
pocket ticket for the ST. Patrick
Day celebration at the Grand Oper;
House Friday evening.