Evening star., 1900-12-06
BULLET I'M HIS BRAIN
RAYMOND EUGENE HARVEY DIES By
HIS OVERLAND.
Believed to Have Resn Under Severe
Mental Strafn-0s<Oner Makes
lnvestiEisSiOn.

Raymond Eugene Harvey, a painter,
thirty years old. whileRlaboring under a Sc
we're mental strain. shot himself in the
right temple about 12 ;oclock last night.
The deed was committed in a shed in the
rear of his home, Nos 6lS F street south
west. and the unfortunate man died about
four hours afterward. Several years ago
he spent some time in the insane asylum
under treatment and was discharged when
1t seemed that he had fully regained poses
sion of his faculties.
Business troubles during recent weeks had
preyed upon him so much that recently he
showed signs of a return of his mental de-
rangement. Last night he was in company
with Michael Saxton. who had worked for
aim, and about 10 o'clock the two men
vent to Mr.. Harvey's stable, as the latter
said he wanted to frighten Richard Brent,
his colored hostler, who was asleep in the
building. He succeeded in doing this. and
the colored man did not return to bed. Just
where and how Mr.. Harvey spent his time
from 10 until IL o'clock the police did not
learn, but at about the latter hour he and
the colored man returned and entered the
stable together intending to enter the house
by way of the back door.
Mr.. Harvey had recently discussed the
question of self-destruction, showing that
the matter of death had troubled him, al
though he had said he could not understand
how a man could take his life. He had
hardly entered the stable before he began
exhibiting the weapon. Several times, it is
stated, he snapped it and 1t failed to ex-
plode Il cartridge. Then he put the barrel
Of the revolver to his head and pulled the
trigger. This time there was report and
the painter fell to the floor fatally wounded
Physician Power4ess to Aid.
Before the fatal shot was fired. Brent, the
colored man, attempted to get possession
oF hOv
the deed was committed the hostler aroused
the three sisters of the painter and also
summoned others of his friends. DIR. Fen
wick was called to the house, but as the
bullet had entered the brain and caused 4
necessarily fatal injury there was but lit
tie that he could do. Harvey did not re-
gain consciousness before he died.
Coroner hewitt investigated the case this
morning and gave a certificate of death
from cerebral hemorrhage and shock fol-
lowing seif-inflicted wound. The certifi-
cate shows that at the time the shot was
fired the victim was of unsound mind Ar
rangements for the funeral had not been
made this afternoon, but it Is likely that
the body will be buried at Mount Olivet
cemetery tomorrow or Saturday. The fu-
neral will be strictly private.
Mr.. Harvey was one of the best known
men in South Washington. having succeed
ed his father, the late Peter Harvey in his
business. His father, who died about seven
years ago, came here from LeOnardtoWn,
Md. about the year 1850, and learned his
trade under the late John r. CasselI. The
sons business prOsperaI until a few mont his
ago. and the lack of work, real or fancied
seemed to worry him. Last summer dur
Ing the excessive hot weather he supcrin-
tended the painting work about the city
post office.
Mr.. Harvey was something of hypno-
tlst, and frequently entertained the co,ored
people in the alley about his stable He
GiftlCIIltv If
them under hypnotic influences.
-Four sisters survive the deceased, three
Of whom live in this city. They are Sister
Angela. who Is connected with the Sacred
Heart Academy; Miss Lizzie Harvey, who
is employed in a government office and
Miss Martina Harvey. a number of friends
OF the family called at the house today to
offer their assistance. among them many
painters, who had worked for the man
whose life was brought to SO sudden u
termination.