Evening star., 1901-03-21
Charles B. Flemer, Aged "a, Shoots
Himself in the Head.
DEATH SWIFTLY FOLLOWS TEE SHOT
The Deceased Had Been a Sufferer
From Disease.
WAS A RETIRED BUILDER

Charles II. Flemer, eighty-four years old,
a retired builder, committed suicide about
$50 o'clock this morning at his home,
No. 701 Maryland avenue northeast, by
shooting himself in the head. Five min
rtes after the shot was fired he was pro-
nounced to be dead. Coroner hewitt WIS.,
tied the house, made an investigation and
gave a certificate Of death from a self-in-
fiicted wound. Lewis Flemer, son Of the
deceased, conducts a drug store on the
ground floor of the building and the two
families occupy the upper floors
A trained nurse had been attending the
patient for several weeks, but she was ab-'
sent from the room this morning when
the fatal shot was fired. She heard the re-
port of the weapon and rushing to the
room, found the patient she had left only
a few seconds before with bullet wound
in his forehead. His right hand showed a
number Of powder stains and the weapon
had fallen on the bed Mrs. Flemer and
the other members Of the family were also
on hand, and DR.. D. Olin Leech, who had
been attending the patient, was summon
ed. He reached the house just about the
time Mr.. Flemer died.
For about two months the aged man
had been confined to his room, suffering
from a complication of diseases, and at
times, his sufferings had been very severe,
would welcome death - Because of the ma
ture of the malady recovery was deemed
almost impossible. For weeks he had en-
dured the pain without a complaint, but
recently his sufferingS had greatly in
creased, and he stated yesterday that he
would take no more medicine. An opiate
to relieve pain was all he desired and the
nurse In attendance anticipated trouble in
dealing with her charge. At times the pain
was so great that it was believed his mind
would become shattered.
Wished for Death.
Only a few hours before his death he
said he wished somebody would end his
sufferings but even then members of the
family did not believe he would take his
own life. The nurse had waited on him
this morning, and about $50 o'clock she
had occasion to visit another room. She
had hardly left his chamber when the re-
port of the pistol caused her to hurry back
to the sick room. There she found the
condition of affairs as stated, and DR..
Leech, who lives in the neighborhood. soon
reached the bedside.
Members of the family do not know
where Mr. Flemer got the pistol. 1t is a
small old-fashioned revolver, and had
probably been owned by Mr.. F'lemer for
many years. The weapon, 1t is believed,
had been kept in bureau drawer, from
where he got it as soon as he was lett
alone in the room.
The deceased, as already stated, was
eighty-four years old, and had lived in this
city more than thirty years having come
here from Germany. He was a builder,
and while so engaged he accumulated
many thousands of dollars. Several years
ago he retired from business and has since
lived with his son.
His Surviving Sons.
Many years ago, while in business, Mr..
Flemer built several houses on street
southeast between 4th and 9Th streets, and
afterward occupied one Of them. His son,
J. A. Flemer, who was then clerk In the
coast survey service, occupied the adjoining
house. After retiring from business the
builder moved to Virginia, thinking coun-
try life would benefit his health, but few
years ago he returned here. Two sons
William and ]. A F1emer, are in the nur-
sery business at Springfield, N. j., while
Lewis and Andrew, the only other children
are associated together in the drug bust
ness. The sons in New Jersey have been
notified of their fathers death and the
funeral arrangements will be made as soon
as they are heard from. An undertaken
prepared the body for burial after Coroner
hewitt had given death certificate.