The Washington times., 1903-12-14
Victim of HalIucinatiOn
Ended His Life.
POPULAR IN DEPARTMENT
Had Offered Resignation, Which Was
Refused-Queer Letter Shows State
of Former Captains Mind.


of Former Captains Mind.
The victim OF an imaginary persecu-
ton. Capt. Joseph II. Thibadeau, clerk
in the Office of the Paymaster General
% the Army. ended his life with bull
let in n room at the st. James Hotel
some time between the hours of 9
O'Clock Saturday night and o'clock yes
terday afternoon. when his body was
discovered.
Captain. or. as he was Familiarity
called, Major Thibadeau. had been a
clerk at the War Department for the
past four years Eighteen months ago
he removed with his family to Falls
Church. where they lived on Little
Falls Road Saturday noon he regis
tered at the St. James Hotel, giving his
residence as Arlington. Shortly after
this he went out to a stationery store
and bought 50 cents worth Of paper. lie
returned to the hotel about o'clock,
and a chambermaid saw him enter his
room.
Shot Was Heard.
About o'clock a shot was heard on
the floor where he rOomed, but nothing
was thought of it at the time. Next
morning. however. the incident was
spoken of. and reached the servants.
When. therefore. the chambermaid
found his room locked until late in the
day, she peeped through the keyhole,
and fancied she saw a mans hand on
the floor She called the attention Of
the proprietor Mr.. Wheeler. who sum-
moned Policemen Walsh and Whalen,
of the Sixth precinct It was decided
10 force an entrance.
When the door was opened Captain
Thibadeau was found lying on the floor
in front of the mirror. a bullet hole in
the center OF his forehead and 81
caliber revolver just beneath his out
stretched left hand. He had been dead
for hours. Coroner hewitt was Informed.
gave a certificate of death by suicide,
and authorized the removal of the body
10 the undertaking establishment of J.
William Lee.
A Remarkable Letter.
On the dresser before which he stood
to aim the fatal shot, lay a letter. which
shows that the mans supposed trou-
bles impelIed him to the act:
AT a time like this" the letter read.
"a statement of facts would but excite
idle public curiosity. and, however true,
il would be controverted by falsehoods-
] will simply say that / am as firm in
the belief as I am in the belief Of God S
existence-that so sure as the sun is
poised in the heavens that the con-
spiracy conceived and planned for more
than six months prior TO this date TO
effect my undoing will soon or late be
revealed. IL may be through death-bed
confession, or other agencies viii bring
II about. 1t viii not long remain con-
cealed where ten OF more persons are
concerned in the planning"
After telling Of his former life in At
lanta. Ga. and making some vague in
situations as 10 the character Of an al
legged conspirator, the letter continues:
~Dreyfus Case Pales."
Il am astounded at what I oveThear
The Dreyfus case pales into insignii-
canoe with It, l cannot tell whether
am Hans or Yacob or Jean Vatican just
from the French galleys. Forty-eight
years Of my life have been devoted to
earnest. constant toll. at the end OF
which, after having secured a compe-
tence three times, I find myself in
stricken poverty
II have no money. I desire that plain
unpainted pine box be furnished for my
burial. To be buried IN the clothes
the flag OF my country. Should the Hon.
Secretary Of War permit much desire
70 be buried at Arlington. where repose
the remains Of five of my warmest and
truest friends.
His PallbeareIs Named.
III the gentlemen named viii serve
would De pleased 70 have them conduct
my remains to the last resting place
Mr. Exley. Mr.. Eastman. MIR. Salmon
AIr. Such, Major Knapp. Mr.. Royce. and
Mr.. SpOoner. No flowers TO be pur-
chased. The cost should not exceed go
4 desire that neither my wife nor my
children be permitted TO view my re
mains after death. BY them I wish tC
be remembered as I appeared in life
Ny wife Is frail. with four small chill
dren around her-without servant or q
dollar at hand. I have done.
JOSEPH HARNIE THIBADEAU.
Can II be possible that this course
viii be construed as an acknowledge
ment Of guilt2 No! Mo-! No,i God
No.,W 1 am g'hltless Of intentional
wrongdoing"
His Resignation Refused.
IncIosed with this we're a great man,
letters and credentials signed by promi-
nent people all over the country. show
ing the estimate in which Captain Thib-
adeau was held. Among them Is his res
ignation. rendered TO Chief Clerk Exlel
on December T. Mr.. Exley persuaded
Captain Thibadeau 10 withdraw this res
ignation. and. contrary 20 published
statements. Captain Thibadeau was on
the roster Of the Paymaster General s
Office AT the time OF his death. The res
fEnation indicates the same state OF
mind as the letter. and reads as follows;
Gen. A y. Bates. Paymaster General