Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-19
A. w. Barrett Commits Sui
eide at Ebbitt House.
HAD BEEN ON A SPREE
WAS ALSO INFATUATED WITH A
MARRIED woMAN.
Left Letter Telling Why He Took His
Life-Tried Gas in the
Morning.

.Goaded to temporary Insanity by excess
sive dissipation. a man who Is supposed to
be A. w. Barrett, who had been guest at
the Ebbitt House since Monday last, COM
mitted suicide at o'clock this afternoon by
firing a bullet into his breast. The bullet
entered close to the heart and produced
death within few minutes
BARRETT that is his name-was in his
room when he fired the fatal shot. No one
was with him at the time. The noise Of the
pistol shot attracted the attention of bell
boy, who forced his way into the room and
found Barrett lying across the bed in pool
of blood.
The clerk of the hotel telephoned the
Emergency Hospital and the ambulance.
with DR.. Morhart responded at once
Barrett was unconscious and died shortly
after the physician reached him. The cor
oner was notified. A letter was found m
the room telling why he killed himself.
This was signed IA. w. Barrett"
Registered Under Another Name.
When Barrett arrived at the Ebbitt
House a week ago he registered as IL.
Bruce" emitting to write down his place
of residence. From his conversation with
others about the hotel during his stay there
it Is thought that his home is In Canada.
He apparently had no definite business,
and spent the greater portion OF his time
drinking. He called at the drug store in
the Ebbitt House frequently, and com
planned OF being unable to keep any food
on his stomach. He talked about MS nav
ing drunk a great deal and created the i'm
preston the only relief he could get was
from stimulants.
Early this morning one Of the employees
Of the hotel detected the odor Of escaping
IL 20 Elor rot
The gas Jet had been turned on. Suisse
Quent events give strength to the belief EN-
tertained at the time that he had tried to
commit suicide in that way.
Barrett was about thirty-f1ve years cd
and fairly well dressed. Those who had
made his acquaintance say that he was
well informed on many subjects and an in
teresting conversationalist.
The Letter.
The letter found In the room was as fol-
lows:
II lay my misfortune primarily to liquor.
Then to my infatuation for married
woman older than myself. Spent all money
could earn or borrow on her. After that
was gone she threw me over. Then my
mother died and something seemed to go
out Of my life. My father died soon after.
1 was forced to make inroads on my in
heritance.
"Then 1 married, but deeply regret to
say my wife proved absolutely helpless. Her
mother proved to be a drunken vixe;. and
made trouble between us.
Began to use more liquor. Travelled
together in Europe. Fortune dwindled rap
idly. On 30th of last August l told her my
money was gone and she left me- Haven
seen her since, and have continued to go to
the dogs.
- IT think should have been better man
If not for two reasons. First. If my
wife's father had given me occupation In
his factory at Toronto. as I was told he
would do before married: second. Ill treat
ment accorded me by my brother. for whom
had a strong affection"
Among Barrett's effects was found silk
umbrella, which had been purchased In
London It bore the initials, "a. w. B"
The letter which he left was written with
lead pencil on the note paper of the Eb-
bitt House and filled nine pages. There
was no date.
The remainder Of the letter recites sew
eral incidents in the mans life and goes
into long discussion of what might have
been He blames his wife and her family
quite severely. and warns others to beware
Of the first drink. At the close he contra
diets part of the note by saying, "but !
have only myself to blame for all my I'M
happiness and sorrow, and for my ruin