Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-27
Former District Employe Shoots Him.
self Through the Head.
WAS IN an INTOXICATED CONDITION
Deed Committed Early This Morn
ing in Boarding House.
THE CORONER'S ACTION

about 3 o'clock this morning by shooting
himself in the right temple. The deed was
committed at the house of Mrs. A. v. Ex-
ner, No. 4I2 o street northwest, where
Lewis had boarded since the latter part of
October. Mrs. Exner and her aged step
father were the only other persons in the
house at the time.
DIR. W. c. Gill was called to the house,
and when he found that life was ex-
tinct the police were called and the
body was taken to the mnrgue. Mrs. EX-
ner is sufferer from heart trouble, and
her experience this morning she describes
terrible one. Lewis had returned
home in an intoxicated condition, and Mrs.
Exner spoke to him about his conduct Be
cause of his helplessness from drink she
went up to the third story to light the gas
in his room. While she was doing this
Lewis entered her room, got possession of
her revolver and sent two 3s-caliber bull
lets crashing through his skull.
Lewis was forty-one years old. He came
here from Meriden, Conn, several years
ago and obtained a position in the Capitol.
Later he was appointed by the Commits
sioners to do duty as a embarrassing po-
liceman in the service of the local street
railway companies and was stationed at
New York avenue and 18th street north
west. While he was employed he lived
on street northwest near ID street Al
though he held the position of special Off
Ger he frequently became intoxicated. One
Sunday while under the influence of liquor
de summoned a squad of officers and made
liquor raid on the Slater House because
of an imaginary personal wrong that had
been done him. The owner of the hotel
was exonerated and Lewis was subse-
quently dismissed for intoXication.
Another Position Given Him.
Soon after his dismissal he was appointed
to position In the composing room at the
government printing office. He went 10
work yesterday morning, but Gid not return
home at the usual dinner hour, as he had
promised to do. Lewis was behind in his
board, and he told Mrs. Exner yesterday
morning he would settle the bill when he
returned in the afternoon. Sunday night
he made promise TO a friend that ne
would refrain from the use of alcoholic
beverages for one month. number of
times he had said he wished he could kin
himself when he drunk, because when
SOLDERING up the humiliation was more than
he could stand. Lewis sober yesterday
morning when he left the house to go TO
work.
DR.. John c. Exner, the dentist is
of Mrs. EXner, and lives in the house with
her He happened to be out of the city
yesterday and did not return home until
this morning. When Mrs. Exner and her
slepfather retired last night a light was
be abe to see how to reach his room on the
third floor. 1t was about 3 o'clock when
Mrs. Exner heard him open the front door.
Thinking he had friend with him She got
out of bed, slipped on her bath robe and
took a position in her room where She
might see who Was with Lewis. She soon
found that he was alone, however. and was
very much under the influence of liquor
Attracted by the light in Mrs. EXner's
room Lewis stepped at the door and said:
How do you do, Mrs. EXner?'
Her response was: How do you do, Mr..
Lewis?' and she added: Aren't you
ashamed of yourself?'
Yes, l am ashamed of myself admitted
the intoxicated man.
IN not submit to this any longer the
landlady told him, thinking of the board bill
he owed her as well as of his intoxication.
Secures the Revolver.
Lewis was in no condition to handle
matches, and when he asked that his room
be fixed Mrs. Exner consented to go up and
light the gas for him. Lewis entered the
bath room, and while he was there Mrs.
Exner went upstairs. While she was max
Ing a light in his room he went into her
room and took her revolver from bag be-
side her bed, where she kept it, During the
holidays he cleaned it for her, and gave
her a box Of cartridges, and then learned
where the weapon was kept. Before Mrs.
Exner could leave his room to return to the
second floor Lewis fired the fatal shot.
Mrs. EXner declares that two shots were
fired. although there is but one wound in
the dead mans skull, an exceptionally big
one. 1t is regarded as possible that two
bullets passed into the brain. There were
two empty chambers in the weapon when
1t was picked up from where the dead body
had fallen.
The deco lsed is well connected, and has
several relatives in this city. among them
Juan Lewis, a clerk in the patent office
Several times Lewis remarked to Mrs EX-
ner that he was the black sheep of the fam
lily.
Coroner Carr examined the body about
noon today. He could not tell, without an
autopsy, whether there was one bullet or
more in the brain of the unfortunate man.
A certificate of death from a self-inflicted
wound was given. Relatives Were notified