Evening star., 1903-12-14
SHOT THR0YGI BRAIN
Joseph Harnie Thibadeau
Takes His Own Life.
THE CAUSE ASSIGNED
LEAVES LETTER. WHICH INDI-
GATES A DIsoRDERED MIND.
Appoints Pallbearers for His Own
Funeral-Deceaseda Resident Of
Falls Church, Va.

A chambermaid at the ST. James Hotel
went to room 10 about o'clock yesterday
afternoon to arrange the bed and change
the linen but was unable to open the door,
She thereupon inspected the room through
the keyhole and saw the dead body. or the
occupant of the room lying on the foor II
was later developed that the body was that
of Joseph Harne Thibadeau, sixty-one
years old who had formerly been employed
as a clerk In the office of the paymaster
general of the Navy Department. He was
the father of eleven children. who live with
their mother at the family home at Falls
Church Va.
Mr.. Thibad deau had committed suicide by
shooting himself through the head. 1t is
evident that he stood in front of a mirror
to see that his aim was true when he fired
the fatal shot. The weapon with which he
took his life was clutched in his hand when
| the police entered the room to take chat ge
of the body 1t is believed the deed vas
| committed about o'clock Saturday night.
for about that time a heavy noise, such as
would be made by body falling to the
floor, was heard by some of the hotel
guests. They did not hear the report of the
pistol shot.
Mr.. Thibadeau registered at the hotel
Saturday afternoon about l o'clock, and
was last seen alive about three hours later
1t is believed lengthy letter Of explanation
found in the room was written by the un-
fortunate man after he entered his room
shortly after o'clock The room was very
much disordered. and showed that the sole
occupant had been in terribly nervous
condition. The condition Of the body ma ie
it apparent that life had been extinct a
number of hours. 1t is the belief Of The
friends of the dead man that his mind bad
become disordered because of troubles, real
or imaginary, and the deed, they are p.si-
tive was that of an insane man.
Dreyfus Case insignificant.
The letter written by Thidabeau in which
he says the Dreyfus case pales into in
significance when compared with his reads
follows: -
AT time like this a statement of facts
would but excite idle public curiosity and
however true, it would be controverted by
falsehoods. 1 will simply say that am as
firm in the belief as 1 am in the belief OF
Gods existence-that so sure as the sun is
poised in the heavens that the conspiracy
conceived and planned for more than six
| months prior to this date to effect my un-
doing will soon or late be revealed 1t may
De through death-bed confession, or other
agencies will bring it about. 1t will not
long remain concealed where ten or more
persons are concerned in the planning.
Prior to my coming to this city four
years since l had been citizen of Atlanta
Ga, for thirty years, and being continuous
ly engaged in business enterprises along
different lines. Much is said of a business
transaction which was litigated at my in
stance ten years since. Why produce news
paper articles which appeared during a
temporary absence? They do not produce
what appeared after my return nor yet the
result of the trial as shown, by court rec
ords.
AFTER that occurrence I continued my
residence In Atlanta, engaged in different
lines of work. When there CONTEMPLATED
the construction of a line of railroad My
friends who best knew me willingly yolun-
teered to subscribe to a personal bond for
me Of $4,000 If needed
1t is usual that defaulters and abscon-
ders are arrested and prosecuted for such
onenses 1t cannot be shown that 1 was
ever arrested for any cause during the en-
tire course of my life. nor do the court rec
ords show that suit at law was ever in
stituted against me during the thirty years
of my residence in Atlanta. Ga. Herewith
inclosed are unqualified Endorsements from
men or prominence in Atlanta who through
no manner of means would vouch for the
integrity of many who now assail my char
acter.