The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-27
WITH POISON AND GAS.
Continued from 10th Page.

t.Se my life in my own hands this
night, and die, for I see it plainly
written for me that IL 1 try to live lon
ger I viii go to everlasting ruin and
punishment.
II ] go tonight l soIemnly feel that
! will get everlasting glory in the
Heaven above. l know you will grieve
at this. but it must be for my safety
in the next world. / would have noti-
fed you before now. but if could have
done so YOU would have tried to
prevent it. know you must
be good and meet me in Heaven when
you die. for it is a solemn thing TO die.
! have prayed God to save my soul
and feel that he viii do it. Now this
is my last TO you and you must keep
it and refer to IL in order to remind
you Of your Creator.
Hard to Leave Mother.
Mama it is hard to leave you in
this manner but l cannot live longer
as I am wretched and sick, so l must
die praying God to have mercy on my
soul. Before you get this 1 will
have passed away
You must try and change your
worldly goods into a home where you
can live better than where you are at
now. You must not worry your
parture. for you must know
that We must all leave this world
sooner or later. My tools and apparel
will about pay my board bill, so you
need not make any Investigations about
them.
You must for my sake, be good and
try to meet me in heaven, when you
come to die. VIII you, mama? Dear
mamai Give all my best wishes and
do lou 70
all, and yourself supreme. Goodbye,
till we meet again, which will be in
heaven. Your loving and boy
Willie.
Was in nI-HeaIth.
Hankinson was about "a years of age
and a carpenter. He came TO Savannah
about a year ago, and worked on the
Union Depot as long as there was light
work TO do. He suffered from an all
ment that prevented his doing heavy
work and was consequently despon-
dent. He frequently stated that he in
tended 10 take his own life and left
his boarding house Sunday morning
with the avowed purpose of ending his
existence. He changed his mind and
went to church. He returned to dinner
and in the afternoon attended services
at the Y NJ. c. A.
About two months ago he secured
board with ]. r. Wilmington of No.
81 Whitaker street, and IL was while
there that he made known his inten-
ton of taking his own life. Mr.. With
ington stated that the religious ex-
ercises Sunday temporarily relieved the
mind of the young carpenter. but that
or Monday he did not go to
work, and was more melancholy
than usual. His condition Monday
evening became such as to alarm Mr..
Wilmington and DIR. G. L. Hartman
was called in. He found Hankinson in
a highly nervous state and worked on
him for some little while.
cleft Home Tuesday.
About Tuesday noon he left his
boarding house and during the after
noon wrote a note from the Screven
House if he had left a letter in his
ROOM When he did not return yester-
day Mr.. Wilmington called at police
headquarters to learn if the police had
arrested, or heard anything of, the de-
spondent carpenter. He was surprised
and shocked TO learn of the events that
had transpired. He stated to the po-
lice that the young mans mother had
visited Savannah several weeks ago
and endeayored without success to get
her son to return to South Carolina
with her.
Hankinson registered at the Screven
House Tuesday night and was as
signed TO a room. He was not no
ticed by any one in the hotel during
the day, and probably spent most of
his time In his room, where it is pre-
sumed he wrote the letter TO his moth
er. About an hour and a half before
the explosion he rang for bell boy
and ordered the ounce bottle of Iauda-
nam. saying that he was sick and
needed ii for medicinal purposes. He
emptied the bottle and a half filled
glass of water showed that he had
washed 1t down with water The
room filled rapidly with gas, and the
discovery was made probably within
an hour after the act was committed.
The remains were taken in charge
by Undertaken Dixon and will be held
until instructions are received from his
mouher The body was taken to the
undertaker's establishment on Perry
street and will be prepared for burial
as soon as Mrs. Hanknson is heard
from. Only 10 cents was found In the
pockets Of the young carpenter. and
% cents for the service of the boy who
got the laudanum was charged against
MIN on the books at the hotel.