Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-08
DEATH OF JOHN C. FARRA.


A Well-known and Prominent CiIizen Ends
Eis Life by HIS Own Hand-Two Bullets
DO the nendIy Work.
John @. Farra, cashier OF the local
freight department of the Baltimore g.
Ohio Railroad Co., committed suicide
Sunday afternoon, by shooting him
self, in his effioe, which is on the
second floor CT the Market street station
of the Baltimore & Ohio railrond. The
only cause which can be assigned IS
temporary mental alteration, produced
by overwork. Two shots we're fired,
one bullet penetrating the middle OF
the chest and the other the heart. The
weapon used was q 32- ealibre revolver,
which had been around the office for
some time.
At Just what time Mr.. Farra ended
his life, or how long it was rremedi-
tatcd, is not known. 1t had been his
custom to do some work Mt the Office on
Sundays, in order to catch up with the
weeks duties, and he went there about
9 o'clock Sunday morning. Shortly
after IL o'clock he went TO the club
house of the Bayard Legion Democratic
Club, OF which he was member. He
pleasantly chatted with friends, and
there seemed to be nothing unusual in
returned to his Office
Nothing further was known of him
until about 5 O'Clock, when Patrick
Murray, the watchman at the railroad
station, who had Just gone on duty, in
looking through glass door in the
second, story of the building, saw Mr..
Farra's body lying on the floor in the
rear room. Hastily descending the
steps, he informed Ticket Agent ] Il.
Hitch that Mr.. Farra had killed him
self. Mr.. Hitch made hasty eyamina-
tion of the body and notified Coroner
! Vandever and tho police, and the
coroner and his deputy, Ferris Giles,
assisted by Sergeant Lucas and Police
| men Tucker and Lyons, looked after
| having the remains moved.
Two letters were found on Mr.. Farra's
| desk, one addressed to Mrs. Farra ard
the other to James F. Higgins, local
freight agent of the B. & 0. road.
Mrs. Farra's letter was sealed and its
contents were not made public. 1t was
delivered by Coroner Vandever and
Deputy Giles to Mrs. Farra at the
house, No. 902 West Ninth street. The
sad news was terrible shock to her.
The letter to Mr.. Higgins informed
him Of the combination TO the safe, but
contained nothing that would indicate
that the writer contemplated suicide or
was suffering under mental strain. The
letter to Mrs. Farra did not state any
reason for the act.
g. @. F. Bent, superintendent of the
Philadelphia division of the Baltimore
Il Ohio railroad, and Freight Agent
Higgins. when seen at the atter's office,
could throw no light on the reason for
| hf,t anI Nv
Higgins said Mr.. Farra had been a
faithful empluye and had always taken
great care with his work, which was
frequently audited and always found
correct. The last audit was made about
two months ago. Both regretted ex-
ceedingly'the death of Mr.. Farra.
John @. Farra was born in Whining
ton in 1851, and was son of the late
Daniel Falra, a well-known surveyor.
He attended the public schools, and
learned the profession of his father,
with whom he was associated for several
years, while the elder Mr.. Farra was
city engineer Afterwards he entered
the employ of the Delaware Western
railroad, and was continued in the
service when the railroad passed into
the control of the B. & o.
Mr.. Farra was very active in pOlitica
affairs and was a prominent Democrat
In 1885 he was elected President o
City Council by large majority
running far ahead of his ticket. This
office was the only one he ever held
Mr.. Farra had a fondness and de-
cided aptitude for newspaper work, ant
Mt one time contributed frequently tt
the press of Wilmington and othel
. cities.
Mr.. Farra was one of the most popu
lar men in Wilmington. His manner
was genial and his disposition at al
times bright and cheerful. HI
, was thoughtful, considerate, generous
: charitable in temperament and loyal t
his friends. Few mon die more widel.
or sincerely regretted. He was mem
= bsr of Eureka Lodge, No %, a. F. ant
! A. M, and of the order of Heptasophs
and was also member and vesirymal
of Trinity p. j.. Church and a membe
. of the Brotherhood of st. Andrew.
j.. Mr.. Farra in 1883 was married t.
! Miss Laura Green of Chester county
= = Pa, who, with one son, aged about
l l years, survives him.
2 1t is likely III 1t III. Howard Carver
= clerk in the height office of the Balti
: more 4 Ohio Railroad Co., will succee
= Mr.. Farra. Superintendent Bent, j
= speaking of the matter, said that Mr.
Carver is next in line for promotion
and that it is the custom of the com
pany to promote their men in thi
~, No., r,n, ;ac opo,-r