Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-07
ENDED HIS LIFE BY ROPE
Sensational Suicide Of Hugh
Duffy in the Cellar Of No.
1893 Madison Street.
TIED A CLOTHES LINE TO A JOIST
Stood Upon a Chair, Tied the
Rope About His Neck and
Kicked the Chair Away
--pespondency the
Cause,

Hugh Duffy, aged 81 years, com
mitled suicide about noon yesterday by
hanging himself With clothes line in
the cellar of his residence, No. $50
Madison street. His mind has been
affected for the past three months and
it Is supposed that his rash act was
The result of his affection. The menu
beri Of his family have been keeping q
close watch upon him, but vest rday,
while they y ere moving 10 another
house the watch was relaxed to some
extent and he had an opportunity TO
go about the house at will.
About III O'Clock in the morning, while
Mr.. Duffy ana the other mombers of
the family were busily engaged in pre-
pariog TO move Mr.. Duffy went up
staiTs, saying he felt III and was going
TO lie down. This created no sus-
ptcion, but at about | O'Clock nothing
having been seen or heard OF him since
he went upstairs two hours before he
was called. There was no reply, how
ever, and when the room to which be
was supposed to have gene was visited
it was vacant, This created alarm and
q search of the house was begun. as II
was pretty certain he had not left the
building.
Annie johnson, coiored, who lives In
New street, and who had been EN-
nloyed to assist In moving, went to the
cellar and was horrified to see the dead
body of Mr.. Duffy suspended by rope
from the raftels. She gave the alarm
and A. j.. kooch, who resides In tie
ad Joining house went to the assistance
of the amily and out the rope, letting
the body down. The body was cold.
tho man evidently having died more
than an hour before. An examination
showed that Mr.. Duffy had procure a
clothes line and tying 1t about the
supports between two raftsrs had made
q moose, which he adjusted about his
neck. He evidently stood upon chair
and kicked 1t from upder him.
Although only about 5 feet 3 inches
tall, his feet touched the floor ana be
must have bent bis knees 10 order 10
carry out his purpose.
AS soon al the body was discovered
a message was sent to the police station
and the office of Coroner Frick, and In
q short time Sergeant Lyons and
Edmund Myers Of Coroner's Under
taker Chandler's office arrived and
carried the body from the cellar to the
first floor of the building, where it re-
malheu until soma other disposition
was made by Undertaken Frick, who
subsequently took charge.
Deceased was recently at the Della
ware Hospital, where he had an opera
ton performed for maIformation Of one
OF bis feet. His mental condition
recently bad given his family and
friends much concern.
Mr.. Duffy WAS one Of the best known
men 10 the county. At one time be
was proprietor OF the Gilpin House,
opposite the Court House Ia New
Castle. Prior to that time be had been
a clerk at the rasker iron works and
married Miss Annie Whitfield IF thai
CITY, who, with two children, survives
him. After leaving, New CASTLE he
came TO Wilmington and was employed
as clerk by the Harlan q Hollingsworth
CO., the Diamond State Steel Co, and
other manufacturing establishments IN
this city. He had many friends.