The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-20
MYSTERY IN SUICIDE
OF EBBITT HOUSE GUEST
Question as to Use OF Left
Hand by Barrett.
FURTHER INQUIRY LIKELY
Hotel Management on Watch for Some
thing Desperate, as Peculiar Ac-
tons Caused Comment.

Upon the question as TO whether A.
". Barrett. who was found shot through
the heart in his room III the Ebbit;
House yesterday afternoon. was left
handed, may rest the matte. of a further
inquiry into the manner Ia which ne met
his death In issuing d certificate of
death by suicide. Coroner hewitt said
that the pistol could only have been fired
by the deceased with his left hand jud4-
ing from the manner in which the body
lay upon the bed
But for the fac that the hotel en-
ployes had found him the previous even
ing with the gas turned on. in an evident
effort 20 end his life" the coroner said,
for his strange actions, and fey the let
ter which he Ielr. 1 should have pursued
the Investigation further before issuing
the certificate.
Barrett arrived at the EbbiJt Monday.
and registered as L Bruce, Ottawa
He was neatly dressed, wore q handsome
fur-Hned overcoat. trimmed with astra-
khan, had sufficient funds for his imme-
date needs, and the bearing Of a gentle
man. He vas supplied only with hand
seemed TO have an abundance OF leisure,
and was much seen by the other guests
The latter part of the week his strange
actions attracted the attention of Mana
ger Birch. who directed that the house
watchmaD should carefully note Bar
rett's room on his rounds o. the night
Sunday night an odoT Of escaping gas
was traced 10 Barrett's room, ana it
was only with difficulty that he was
awakened. and the gas cut of Yes
terday morning he did not come down
to breakfast. as had been his custom,
and Nj Birch had finally decided TO
force an entrance into the room. as no
reply was obtained from repeated calls.
Before this could be done, however,
muffed pistol shot rang throughout the
corridors, and a moment later the house
keeper and several other employees had
opened the door and reached Bsrretts
side. He was unconscious A new IS
caIiber revolver with one chamber
emptied lay close at hand. A small
wound, from which percolated q few
drops Of blood, one and one-balf inches
below and to the left of the nipple, told
E story. He evidently had not arisen
aimee retiring the night before.
Dr.. Morhart responded SO quickly with
the Emergency Hospital ambulance that
h could still see the bits of smoke curl
ing from the weapon with which the act
was committed. but he was too late The
heart had been penetrated. Death must
have been Instantaneous
Coroner hewitt questioned everyone
concerning the tragedy. The letter left
by the deceased was unquestionably in
his handwriting. It was somewhat ram
bling in tone, but foreshadowed the
tragedy which followed its preparation
Barrett ascribed all Of his troubles 10
drink, and to an infatuati0n for a mar
Tfed woman who had thrown him over
after he had spent upon her fortune
he had inherited
Detectives FlatheT and Evans took
charge of the room until the body was
removed to the mcrgue. Upon informa-
ton secured by them Captain Boarcman
telegraphed Boston and in reply was in
formed that H H AthertCn would take
charge o. the remains The dispatcn
was signed by q brother, " E. Barrett.
of 40 WaItham Street, where the de-
EEbetu &ldtl i4NEA al D-lE Ll-4-t vi = ~
erton in the meantime had learned of
the suicide and completed The Identified
tion Of the body he is secretary 10
Representative E. y Roberts
The deceased VAS a brother of former
Representative ". E. Barrett of Masss-
chusetts through whose influence he Sc
cured an appointment as secretary OF
legation at Caracas under Minister
ScruS1s. While there he made use OF
his position 10 secure and transmit to
his brothers papers q series Of articles
that greatly offended the Venezuelan
government and necessitaLed his hurried
departure from that country Prior to
that he had spent some years in London
as correspondent for his brothers pa
pers In London he was a member OF
the Lambs Club and was on intimate
terms with many or It's distinguished
members
n. Barrett's body was turned over 10
an undertaken, who prepared it for ship
ment 10 Boston this afternoon where
the funeral VIII occur