The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-01

with suppressed nervousness, Come
this way" then adding. with an effort
at reinsurance. on, I don't suppose it's
the man you're after he led her to
the door. opened It, and entered.
"oh-it-is-Jimt' she moaned. as she
threw herself across the body OF the
man extended on the table in the center
of the room. My God, Ny God. Ny
poor husband My poor boy! why have
you done this. on. let me die, too. let
me die My children! Ny baby. All"
shrek that rent the air terminated
the distracted words. as the woman
reeled and fell heavily TO the floor.
The swollen lips responded not. the
blue. pale face gave no expression;
tragedy vas being enacted at It's side
greater than that seIf-imposed one be-
meath the bridge. yet the figure needed 1t
not. On one side Of the room were
twelve jurors; the coroner was on the
opposite side. the body in the center.
Beyond we're witnesses and spectators.
Several OF the jurors ran TO the aid OF
the swooning woman, and the coroner.
who was also physician. rendered some
skilled assistance She was tenderIy
lifted from the foor and carried into
the pure air Of the large corridor with
out Then the door was closed, and the
h,rsfreee az hand r,rr,cesf7a5
4 policeman was sworn and placed
on the stand. He testified that be
was making the last round on his
beat shortly before 6 O'Clock that morn
ing, when he discovered. from dis
lance, what appeared to be a body sus-
pended by a rope from an under order
of the st. Charles Avenue bridge. He
approached nearer. and though it was
scarcely daylight. he could see enough
to tell that 1t was a man hanging there.
He climbed over the railing, and with
much difficulty got down on the gfrder
from which the body was suspended
Witness caught hold Of the rope. and
tried to pull it up. thinking the man
might not yet be altogether dead. He
drew him high enough to feel the face.
and to see that life was entirely extinct.
when he let him slip down again. Then
witness went back upon the top Of the
bridge and hunted up officer Flynn and
Sergeant Mckee. Together they re-
turned to the body and succeeded in
getting it up on the bridge.
Sergeant Mckee and Officer Flynn
testified as to their participation n the
affair, substantially as above
The coroner then inquired If there
was any further evidence.
There was none.
Had the body been searched?
It had not
The coroner then directed the officers
present to search the body.
They proceeded to do so From the
inside pocket of the vest nearest the
heart was drawn a sealed envelope. It
bore the address:
MRS. CARRIE E JOHNSON.
1924 Ludlane Street.
City.
Tear it open. directed the coroner.
and If it contains any writing, the
clerk will read it."
It was torn open. and paper was
disclosed. from which the clerk read
aloud as follows:
Ny Own Darling Wife:
I give up the battle. Not for ny own
sake. darling. but for yours. For my
self, I could starve and die in the streets
and not complain. but I cannot see you
and the babies starve- Ny death. The
manner in which I die, and the reason
why I die viii surely attract public
attention do not believe that God
has put a hinty heart in every breast IN
this city. though we have not found an
exception. believe that when it is pub
Iiely known that a we'll bred and care
fully raised American white woman, with
her five babies. is starving TO death. and
that her husband. after the-most dill
gent and protracted search for employ
ment, is unable TO find it or to secure
food for them, and has hanged himself in
desperation believe. I say. that when
this Is printed at length in the news
papers. assistance will come to you AMI
the little ones.
As long as live there is no sympathy
or succor for any Of Us. Though I re-
fused money extended me through sym
pathy in the earlier stages of our ca
lamity. I have since begged men for
money to buy food, and told them my
children were starving. They would
coldly laugh and tell me they heard that
a dozen times every day; ask me Why
I did not go to work and earn money 10
support my family. In short. I was act
believed.
I could not longer eat a Fart Of the
little food which the Door neighbors