Evening star., 1900-12-25
Suicide of Aged John Ryan, a Veteran
Soldier.
FOUND WITH BULLET IN HIS BRAIN
Had Suffered a Great Deal From
Disease.
NO RELATIVES KNOWN HERE

John Ryan. an old soldier, who was re-
tired from the United States army after
having served more than thirty years. COM
mltted suicide about O'Clock this morning
by shooting himself in the head He
in an alley near the Business High School
when the deed was committed. Miss Gel
ger, who lives at 104 Indiana avenue. heard
the report of the weapon, but paid no at
tention to 1t, believing the shot had been
fired by some one who was celebrating
Christmas. Four hours later the body of
Ryan was found in the alley by Policeman
Brennan of the sixth precinct. The bullet
had entered through the right temple. and
the right hand of the victim was resting
on the revolver that had been dropped be-
side him.
Ryan was SeVenty-three years old. having
been born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1s2S He
came to this country when he was quite a
boy, and his first enlistment was as a pri-
vate of Company \, Sth infantry. Later he
served in Company a, 44th Infantry. and
Battery G. Sd Artillery. He took out his
naturalization papers in this city in 1870.
For more than "a year he occupied a room
in the house of Mrs. Margaret BRYAN No
JOG Indiana avenue and had lived here for.
ABOUT ten years since his discharge from
the army.
Was Beloved ny Friends.
of a man had been found near her back
gate she offered up a prayer for him. little
thinking that the victim was John RYAN.
who was loved by everybody in her house
Nothing too good can be said about John
Ryan" she said when she learned of the
identity of the body that had been found
near her gate. Ryan was a man of ex-
emplary habits He remained in the house
most of the time and was always trying to
DO good for others. Never did he lose an
opportunity to say good word or perform
a Kind act for his fellow man.
For many months he had suffered from a
skin disease and recently he had become
despondent, believing he could not be
cured. A number of doctors had prescribed.
and Few days ago. in conversation with
a friend. he remarked that he had con-
Guided to quit receiving medical attention
1t Is apparent that he had thought over his
proposed self-destruction for some time
for he had recently discussed a suicide
that occurred in the neighborhood about
year ago and had commented on his own
future burial. Yesterday he was sick and
although he had been in the habit of eat
ing his meals at a lunch room, Mrs Bryan
prepared dinner and took it to him.
Would Not Dance.
About o'clock he came downstairs with
the dishes that had been left in his room
and few minutes later he was sent for
ed him to dance the Virginia reel, but he
begged to be excused only on the grounds
of illness.
But" he volunteered, II listened to the
playing of The Girl 1 Left Behind Me-
and 1T good music"
Shortly after 6 o'clock he went to his
room on the second floor and nothing moro
was seen of him until his dead body was
found in the alley this morning He made
no noise In leaving the house A week ago
he made Christmas presents to several per-
sons in the house, and yesterday he insisted
on paying months rent, although the
money was not due. Mrs. Bryan refused to
take the money. When the body reached the
morgue the police found s24.25 in the dead
mans pockets.
1t is stated that he had not drawn his
pension money for the last quarter. Cor
oner hewitt investigated the case and gave
certificate of death from a self-infiicted
wound. The body will probably be buried
at Arlington. So far as is known Ryan had
no relatives in this country.