Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-19
Suicide Of Frederick Furlong, a Well.
Known Newsboy.
BECAME DESPONDENT over ILLNESS
Had Sold Papers at B. and 0. De-
pot for Years.
POPULAR WITH CUSTOMERS

Frederick Furlong, cripple who nad
sold newspapers ABOUT the front of the
Baltimore and Ohio depot for more than
twenty years, committed suicide this morn
ing by blowing off part of his skull with a
shotgun. The deed was committed at the
young mans home, No. 1928 G street
northeast, about 6:35 o'clock.
After a thorough investigation of the
case Coroner hewitt expressed the belief
that Furlong had been driven insane by
sickness and worry, and so stated in his
certificate of death.
Hundreds of commuters and others who
travel on the Baltimore and Ohio road and
who patronized the crippled newsboy," as
they called Furlong, made anxious in
quiries. for him this morning when they
failed to see him at his post of duty. The
news of his death proved to be a Sc
we're shock to many who had shown an
interest in him for years. The interest
was reciprocal, too, for while they had
expressed regard for the young man, the
latter had always been extremely oblig-
ing to them. He knew all the regular
patrons of the road and was often able to
give them desired information in addition
to serving them their daily papers. His
failure to be on hand with his papers this
morning caused more comment than would
the absence of a railroad official.
During the past two months Furlong had
been sick. He had some trouble with his
heart and had been led to believe he could
never get well. He brooded over his sick
ness until he was unable to sleep, and then
he tried to force sleep by the use of medi-
cine. Yesterday he went an excursion
with his mother and other members of the
family, returning home about 10 o'clock.
His Sisters Discovery.
This morning his married sister, Mrs.
Pinkney, went into his room to get some
OLE
the bed with his gun in his hands
What are you doing there?' Mrs. Pink
ney inquired, not suspecting for an instant
himself
Il heard somebody in the back yard"
was the answer she received.
She told him the noise was made by a
neighbor and put the gun in the corner
telling him he had better see if he could
get little more sleep. Getting the tow
els from a bureau drawer where they were
kept. Mrs. Pinkney left the room and went
down stairs. She had hardly reached the
lower floor before she heard a loud report
made by the firing of the gun.
Rushing back to the room on the second
floor. Mrs. Pinkney was Mortified at the
sight presented. There on the bed was the
dead body of her brother, his brains hav-
ing been blown out. Particles of brain
and spots of blood were on the wall and
floor, while blood was pouring from the
called to the house, but he could do moth
ing, the wound had caused instant
death. Mrs. Furlong, the young mans
mother, and other relatives were imme-
diately sent for, and relatives in New York
were also notified of the death.
Had Accumulated Property.
The deceased was twenty eight years old
and was a native CT this city. During the
twenty years he was engaged in selling
newspapers he saved considerable money
and few months ago he purchased the
house in which he ended his life. He sold
his first papers the day President Garfield
was assassinated. Being a cripple and
compelled to use clutches, he was unable
to do much manual labor. A few years
ago he purchased several horses and carts,
and the investment proved to be a profit
able one. He was always extremely con-
siderate of his mother and sisters
His funeral will probably take place
Thursday morning, although the exact
time will not be definitely fixed until rela-
tives in New York are heard from.