Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
ALEXANDRIA AFT AIRS
Geo. W. Dix, Former Letter
Carrier, Commits Suicide.
DROWNED IN BATH TUB
DEED SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN
DUE TO DEsPoNDENCY.
Baltimore Parents Seeking Informa-
ton Regarding the Issuance of Sons
Marriage License-Briefs.
DROWNED IN BATH TUB
Evening Star Bureau,
701 King street.

Bell telephone log.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, April L. 1908.
George w. Dix, former letter carrier
of this city. aged about fifty years, COM
mitted suicide shortly after o'clock this
morning by drowning himself in a bath
tub at his home, 211 North Pitt street.
Policeman Joshua Sherwood, who lives
nearby, was summoned to his house few
minutes later by the screams of Mrs.
Sarah A. Dix, his aged mother who had
discovered him just he was expiring.
The officer, in company with John Lannon.
went at once to the bath room and found
the unfortunate man dead, though his
body was yet warm. He was undressed
and was in a cramped position in the tub.
Apparently his legs and arms had been
braced against the sides in order to hold
himself firmly under the water. When
Officer Sherwood reached the room all the
water had run out of the tub.
The officer sercured permission from
Coroner William r. Purvis to remove the
body to a bed, where 1t was examined
soon after by the coroner, who deemed
an inquest unnecessary. The attention
of members of the Dix family was at
tracted this morning by an unusual noise
in the bath room. Going to investigate,
Mrs. Dix was Mortified to find her son
submerged in the water and with life
evidently almost extinct The fact that
the tub was empty when others arrived is
explained by the superstition that the plug
was loosened in the meantime by some
convulsive movement of the dying man.
The suicide Is supposed to have been the
result OF dependency and remorse. Dix
was under indictment by the grand jury
for the larceny of several separate sums Of
money from Osceola Tribe Independent
Order OF Red Men. of which he was treas
urer. His trial before petit jury in the
CORPORATION court would DrOha h1v
taken place within the near future. His
mother states that her son told her some
time ago that he could bear up no longer
under the load that was depressing him.
Last night he returned to his home about
10 O'Clock apparently in good spirits He
talked with his mother until nearly mid
night, when he retired.
Mr.. Dix has been unemployed for about
five months. Soon after his dismissal from
the post office, following the publicity con-
nected with the charges against him, he
widow and one child, a girl about
twelve years old, survive him. He was
arrested last November on the charges
above stated and his indictment soon fol-
lowed. The matter caused much surprise
In this city where he had many friends.
several of whom took steps to secure coun-
sci for his defence. He was one of the
original letter carriers of Alexandria, hav-
Ing been In the service for fifteen years.
Information Wanted.
Mayor Simpson today received a letter
from Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Franklin of Bal
timore, asking for assistance in tracing
the person who secured the license in this
city last week for the marriage of their
son. sixteen-year-old Benny Franklin and
Miss Katie Pugh. two years his senior. The
joint writer's state that they desire to get
all the evidence possible so that they may
prosecute those connected with the affair.
The parents state that the young man who
procured the Incense is said TO reside in
Washington. They allege further that the
minister who tied the knot must have been
blind, and express a desire to find some
way to bring him to justice. AS before
stated in The Star, Mr.. N. S. Greenway,
deputy clerk Of the corporation court, said
that the young woman was accompanied
nounced that he was her guardian and
that she was twenty years of age, where
upon the license was issued.
Land Condemnation Proceedings.
The commission appointed by the eastern
district United States court for the con-
demnation Of certain lands near Fort Hunt
with a view to the enlargement of the fort
grounds met here yesterday and took up
nearly the whole day in hearing evidence
and argument concerning the value Of
tract of land near the fort belonging to J.
r. Miller. The commission finally fixed
upon the sum of $2S 500 as a just compensa-
ton. Attorneys B. F. Leighton and Doug
las Stuart, counsel for Mr.. Miller. noted an
appeal. 1t Is said that the matter may be
heard before Judge Edmund Waddili Of the
United States court. District Attorney l..
L. Lewis was on hand in the interest Of the
government. The commissioners are Percy
Crawford, ]. N. Gibbs. I. H. Snowden. ]. c.
Hunter and A. c. Jenkins all Of Fairfax.
Brief Mention.
Rev J. P Stump was reappointed to the
pastorate Of the Washington Street South
ern Methodist Church by the Baltimore
conference which closed its annual session
in Fredericksburg last night Rev. Homer
WEIGH was returned to the Del Ray charge.
The conference accepted the invitation to
meet in Alexandria next March.
Officer Smith last night recovered a lot
of firearms and cutlery supposed by the
police to have been taken last winter from
some of the merchants who suffered from
the nocturnal raids of Perry Shields, the
colored man who confessed to having COM
mitted lot of robberies on King street.
The Virginia conference NJ E. Church
has lust closed its annual session at Eagle
Rock. Va. has returned Rev. J. A. Jeffers
to Trinity Church in this city.