The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-11
A VETERAN COMMITS SUICIDE.
Daniel p. LeecI, Cuts His Throat in II
RGnrhins~ Hnnse

1" EIcSCft Cu*S His Throat In u
BcardinE HOnse.
Daniel Paul Leech. a civil war Vetera n.
a Mason Of high standing and an en-
pioye Of the Government Printing Office,
was found dead about II o'clock this
| morning, with his throat cut from ear TO
ear, his head being nearly severed from
his body Leech's body lay doubled up
| IN the corner of i closet adjoining his
room on the third floor of 455 G Street
northwest The floor of the closet was
covered with blood Every indication
pointed to suicide and from letters found
IN his possession it is believed that fam
lily trouble led TO the commission of the
deed.
Mr- Ieech formerly lived with his wife
and young son at 81 Street northeast
On New Year Eve he and his family
went To his old home in Philadelphia, of
which city he was a native. When he
returned to Washington, several weeks
later, he came alone, and shortly after
ward gave up his house and took room
in the house Of Mrs J. f. Martin. 40
: Street northwest, where he was given
a back room on the third floor
l.eech was extremely quiet and regular
in his habits. and but few of the people
in he house knew him He was en-
ploy ed as a forwarder in the Government
Printing Office bindery.
Saturday evening between ; and
o'clock Mrs. Martin saw him leave the
house and between and 10 o'clock she
heard him return and go TO his room
That was the last that was seen or heard
of him Yesterday morning Miss jose
phine Martin went to the room TO make
Hp the bed. but found the door locked.
10 enter. the room, but being unable to
do s., concluded that Leech had gone
out for the day and locked his door.
About II o'clock this morning Mrs
Martin Esent TO the room. but it was stin
locked End susDeCting that something was
wrong. she called her daughter. 1t was
seen that the key was on the inside of
the door ard after some difficulty it was
pushed out and then they were able to
see that Leech's clothes were lying on Z
lounge Securing another key Mrs Mar
tin and the daughter entered the room
and found him in a pool of blood in a
corner OF the closet.
A policeman was summoned and the
Coroner notified When Morguekeeper
Schoenberger reached the house he found
that the man had probably been dead
considerable 1ength of time The body
was rigid.
Beside the body Of Leech lay a loaded
pistol. a pocI1etknIfe. ana a razor The
be- lad been used and the man had ap-
parer tIy. acted with some INDIGESTION as
70 Whctil@' or not he should take his own
life The lash basin in an opposite cor
ner OF the room contained bloody water
and II is thought that he first cut him
self with his penknife and then. chang
ing his mind. attempted to wash away
the blood. wiPing his hands on towel
afterward- Later he must have entered
the closet. closed the door and ATTEMPTED
TO shoot himself for several cartridges in
the pistol show that they had been struck
by the hammer. but neither OF them had
exploded.
This method having failed. Leech eI-f-
IDENTIFY took the razor from i shelf AT his
Slde, and went about his work Of self
destruction in q most vigorous way
Death must have been almost insta nta-
neous 50 completely severed were the
vital parts Of the neck
In falling. the closet door was forced
open, and he fell in a heap in a corner
of the closet, with his hands still 70 his
throat he had on only his underwear
In his pockets were found numerous
letters from his wife. signed, Annie and
pOstnarked Philadelphia but her street
address was not gwen These letters
we're kindly in tone, but referred 10 di-
Eorce proceedings that were pending or
We're TO be fled
There was also a friendly letter OF ad-
vice on the subject from James Carson.
a produce dealer at stalls thirty-two and
thlrty-fourr Broad Street 4dzFket PhiIa-
dlephia. a bank book showing a balance
70 his credit Of a bout $SGg. wilh the Amer
lean Security and Trust Company. was
among Leech'S effects. which were taken
charge Of By the police
Leech was. about sixtE years old with
grey hair and muSt2che. and wore eve
glasses He enlisted in the Union Army
when sixteen years Old, upon the first
call Tor volunteers, and after seeing bril-
llaht service was captured and held at
AndeTSOnyIsle prison for about eleven
months He was afteTWard exchanged
and going to Chicago he learned the trade
OF boOkb1nder- after u short time in
New York city he came to this city in !
lbl4 and accepted a position in the Coy
erumenJ Printing Office where he has !
been ever since.
He was j member of the Union Veteran
Legion; Of b 2 French Lodge No. Ia; /
Columbia COpnaHdry No ,. and Colura-
bIa Royal Arch Chapter No. J.
Inspf ctor Boardman has teIegraphed |
the Philadelphia police to locate and no. |
tify MS Leech of the sad affair. and it /
is thought that the Masonic fraternity /
VIII take charge Of the funeral arrange t!