New-York tribune., 1902-12-16
SUICIDE IN FIREHOUSE
Nan Wo,ried By Trial Dies IN
SIGHT of Comrades.

The incidents connected with the suicide of
George A. Harmon, of Hook and Ladder Company
H. No $50 East Observation-Disclosures third-st.
We're dramatic He swallowed carbolic acid in the
dormitory over the gathering room for the men,
slid down the pole to where the men were, and fell
among them, crying: 1--WE been to my last f1re!''
and as they and Chief Peter Sloan of that battalion
stood watching him. he said ''Cioodby Chief and
died. He worried the first charge made
against him in ten years service-a two days
leave of absence without permissionthe trial hav-
ing been heard yesterday afternoon in that fire.
house.
Harmon lived with his wife and two children at
No. 773 East One-hundred-a md -sixty-first-st. He
lost crippled boy ne dotted on about six months
ago, and there is slight suspicion by some that
this may have worked his brain and caused
his tendency to worry. he had been somewhat
absentminded after that.
This firehouse is the fire headquarters Of The
Bronx, and the Commissioner always holds trials
there He did yesterday. Harmon did not know
him. and he also stranger to Coroner OGor-
man of The Bronx. This led one of the ffremen to
play joke Harmon yesterday afternoon Han
non was walking into the irehouse when Sullivan,
a fireman, stood talking with Coroner oGorman-
al say Hannon," said Sullivan. stopping his
mate '1et me Introduce you to the Fire Commits
sioner Fireman Harmon, very good man. Mr..
Commissioner
Harmon acknowledged the introduction. and
did Coroner O'Gorman who saw the joke and
thought he would keep it up. Then Sullivan said
t'Mr. Commissioner. Harmon is fine fellow, and
he'll be up trial before you this afternoon Try
TO do much you for him. and transfer
him TO City Island. something like that"
The coroner looked little stern, and sad Very
we'll l shall do you say sir
Then the walked off. Sullivan did not
undeceive Hannon who went to his trial
was astounded when he that the not
the same the to whom he had been intro
duced He had been in good spirits by the intro
Gucton and the probable disposition of the
with only a transfer, for he had believed his end
had come, and that he would be dismissed from
the force for his absence. He felt he would
surely be dismissed, and when the Commissioner
heard the charge and reserved decision this made
Harmon altogether discouraged
1t about 10 o'clock when Harmon alone
in the dormitory, that he committed suicide. The
other men were playing cards and domnoes and
reading in the room below. Harmon drank vial
of carbolic acid, and then the length of the
room and slid down the pole into the room where
the men were He grOaned as he fell the floor
and all the men up to him IT too late to
do anything for him. He groaned again and fell
back dead
A fireman letters sticking out of the
dead mans pocket. which he pulled out and handed
to Chief Sloan, to whom they addressed.
They proved to be letters from the Commissioner,
through his secretary. directing Chief Sloan to
of honorable mention for mertorious deeds per-
formed at fires at the risk OF his life Mention
then made of four lives saved by Harmon at the
risk of his at n fire at No. 159 Rdge-st
December o. 1899, and of another life saved at the
risk of his own a fire at No. 43 AIlen-st. on
and abashed over his charges to present to his
chief letters In his recommendation