The Washington times., 1901-08-24
SUICIDE OF ISRAEL SWAYZE.
His Careful Preparations for Death
in His SISTERS Home.

AS the result of mental depression,
caused ly the lack of employment and
| aggravated by a severe case of rheuma-
tism, from which he feared that he would
| never obtain relief, Israel Swayze. a
| former street ear conductor, and latterly
4 n department clerk. committed suicide
yesterday morning by inhaling illuminat-
| ing gas at the home of his sister. Mrs.
Sarah B. Foss, i57 Massachusetts Avenue
| northwest
| His life. it is believed. would probably
! have been saved had assistance been rem
dered him when the odor of the illuninant
| was first discovered For some ineXpli-
cable reason aid was not called from
| among those who could be quickly reach
| ed, but time was lost in sending down into
the business section of the city for n
| brother, W. l.. Swayze, who is employed
as a bookkeeper in one of the downtown
stores. During the delay thus caused 1t
j is believed that the old man died, for
breathing had just ceased when the door
WAS finally broken open and he was found
upon the bed with the end of a rubber
! tubing attached to the gas jet still in his
mouth
] Israel Swayze was fifty-six years old.
and was a native of New Jersey. which
| State he left at the outbreak of the War
of the Rebellion to enlist in the Union
Army. He served throughout the war as
| a private. and at its close was mustered
1 out and came to Washington, where he
secured employment as conductor on
the Metropolitan car line. He was men,
Der of Garfield Post No. = G. A. r.. and
through the influence of that body he re-
ceived an appointment January &c, 1891,
as clerk in the Record and Pension Di-
vision of the War Department. Several
years later he accepted position in the
Government Printing Office, from which
he was compelled to resign several months
ago by reason Of his being incapacitated
for duty on account OF rheumatism.
Yesterday morning when the colored
servant went to his room, as was her Gus
tom about O'Clock, she found him sitting
the side of his bed He ordered an egg,
some toast and coffee for his breakfast
and ii WAS carried to him. When she left
the second story front room. which was
occupied by him. the servant saw him
sitting the side of the bed tanning him.
self preparatory to eating his meal.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock she detected the
odor OF gas in the house and traced il to
Mr.. Swayzes room. which was locked.
She ran to W. L. Swayze's house. several
doors away, at 49, Massachusetts Avenue,
and informed the brothers wife of the
circumstances. Mrs. Swayze sent for her
husband and in the meantime repaired
to the other house to await his arrival
When w l.. Swayze arrived he broke
in the door and found his brother lying
across the bed in his underclothes. A
rubber tubing had been taken from gas
stove in the room and while one end
was attached to a gas jet the other was
securely fastened into the suicides mouth
with a necktie. towel had also been
tied about the face to exclude the air. A
physician was summoned but life was al
ready extinct.
Acting Coroner Glazebrook was then
telephoned for and pending his arrival
the house was taken charge of by Police
men Robey and Mudd. of the Sixth pre-
cinct. who forwarded the customary re
port to headquarters. Mrs. FosS was also
hastily summoned and was soon at the
house. When DR.. Giazehrook reached the
house he gave permission for the body to
be prepared for burial and stated that he
would give a certificate OF death by sui
eide.
Garfield Post. G. A R.. will probably
take charge of the funeral arrangements,
which have not yet been completed.