Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-03
Joshua Pyles Of Tenleytown Takes
His Own Life.
FOUND At EARLY hour THIS MORNING
No Known Cause for the Act of
SeIf-Destruction.
DISTRICT EMPLOYE

Joshua Pyles. aged fifty-seven who has
been resident Of Tenleytown for several
years, committed suicide this morning be-
tween and o'clock by hanging. The
body was discovered about 6:15 o'clock.
still warm. but with life extinct. Police
men Smith and Easley were notified and
they took down the body and conveyed IL
to the dead man late home, which was
within stones throw Of the scene Of the
hanging
There is said to be no known cause for the
rash act. One OF the sons heard the father
remark yesterday morning that by tomor-
row morning. meaning today. he would fool
them all. No attention was paid to the
statement. particularly as the old man ap-
peared to be IN the best of health and
spirits. laughing and joking, as was his
usual custom. and making no complaint
about anything.
He left his home yesterday afternoon
about o'clock and went over to the home
Of his brother. Ed Pyles. about a quarter
of mile distant. He took his brothers
wife out to Cabin John bridge in the even
ing. When they returned home he re-
manned all night at his brothers house, and
before retiring left word to be awakened at
O'Clock this morning. as he wanted to go
to work today at the reservoir near Bright
wood The brother forgot to awake him.
not arising himself until about 5 o'clock
for his brother the latter gone. He
was Of the opinion at the time that his
III other had awakened himself and left the
house, not caring to arouse any one else.
Discovery of the Body.
Shortly after O'Clock ]. NJ Latimer was
out on a patch Of ground looking for a
horse. In his search he came across the
body Of Mr. Pyies hanging from tree.
and within a few feet Of the hanging form
the horse was found lying down. As near
as Latimer could approximate. this was
about quarter past u o'clock. He went to
Tenleytown and notified several people. and
from Tenleytown word was sent down to
the home of the dead man His eldest son.
John Pyles, went out to the spot. and after
satisfying himself that 1t was his father,
remained until the arrival OF the police and
then went home, preceding the body. to
break the sad news to his mother and the
remainder Of the family.
The place selected for the hanging was
perhaps ten yards from the road-Albe-
marie street. as 1t Is called-a new thor
oughfare running from the Grant road tn
Connecticut avenue, and within 800 yards
Of the latter highway. The tree used was
small locust, not very large, the diam
eter at the base being hardly over three
inches A pair of cart reins had been used.
a notch being cut in the leather at end
and a moose formed and placed about the
neck, while the other ends were fastened to
the tree, about nine 1eSt from the ground.
The leather reins were fastened iuslt above
two prongs of limb that was about two
inches IN thickness.
Marks on the Tree.
There We're marks on the bark Of the
tree showing where the shoes of the man
had scraped the surface in climbing. Under
his weight the tree must have bent con-
sfderably while he was fastening the other
end OF the reins- One OF the small lower
limbs of the tree was broken off, probably
In the upward climb. When found the body
was within TWO feet OF the ground. which
gave a fall of about three feet. 1t looked
as though this sudden weight would have
been sufficient to break the limb, though it
wthstood the strain.
As nearly as can be estimated the man
must have left the home of his brother
some time shortly after O'Clock and
crossed the fields to his own home. 1t was
said that the dogs surrounding the house
berked furiousiy this morning. and 1t Is
supposed this was about the time the father
made his appearance outside the house. In
stead Of entering the house he went into
the stable and secured the reins- and then
went back to the small woods 10 carry out
his suicidal intentions The tree on which
the hanging occurred was within 10 reet
of the house. though hidden from view by
the foliage of the trees and bushes
Wallace c. Harris and several others as
sisted the police in carrying the body into
the nome OF the OedQ man. WHcfc IL was
placed on the floor of the front room. and
Coroner hewitt notified. He reached the
place shortly after 1:30 o'clock. and after
hearing the story and viewing the body
gave a certificate Of death due 10 strangula-
ton. with suicidal intent.
Once Employed by District.
Pyles Is survived by family of ten chill
dren and his wife. four children being small
He was at one time in the employ of the
District government. though last week he
working at the new reservoir near
Brightwood. He did not work Saturday.
intending to enter the employment this
morning of Tait Burrows. on some work
in Tenleytown. He had evidently changed
his mind in this respect. for last evening
he announced at his brothers house that be
intended this morning to go to work at the
reservoir.
For a death by strangulation the features
of the dead man were remarkably pre-
served the face having the appearance of
one asleep. with blood marks beneath
the skin. On the right side of the neck the
skin was cut by the leather strap. but this
was hardly visible. being hidden by heavy
bea rd