The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-18
SPRING EPIDEMIC OF
SUICIDE STRIKES THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Five, Weary of Struggle
End Their Lives.
THREE MEET WITH FAILURE
Remarkable Local Record Probably
Never Before EquaIed-List
OF Victims.

laid heavy hand upon Washington
within the past twenty -four hours. yield
+ ing forth trail OF violent endings .
life and barely missing a number OF
others with its drag net
I Five sUieides and three attempts 1T
self-destruction was the remarkable
local record probably never befors
equaled. The victims were.
Capt. Thomas " Lcrd. L. s. "A, re-
tired, missing sixteen months. whose
body was found in the Potomac River,
near Marshall Hall
Wilson Gurley Reed. lawyer and
broker. who shot himself in The mouth
at his boarding house 1886 Eleventh
Street northwest. and was instantly
killed.
William H Harvest. a grocery sales
man, who died from the effects of Iauda-
nuEn taken at the Homeward Bound Mis-
sion.
Patrick Meany, shipping clerk. who
swallowed laudanum at his home. fg2i
MARYLAND Avenue northeast. died from
the effects of the drug.
George P. Dunning. formerly stenog-
rapber in the Department Of Agriculture.
with dose of poison.
Nellie Russell. u is 3 Street north
west. who tried TO xiii herself with a
dose Of carboIic acid She recovered at
the Emergency Hospital.
George Rupert a vagrant. who en-
deavored to hang himself in a cell OF the
Sixth precinct station. but was resuseI-
tated at the Casualty Hospital
Frank 5. Powell, a wagon painter. WHO
took a quantity Of cocaine at his home.
4sS H Street northwest. He was re-
moved to the Emergency Hospital. and
his condition was pronounced asot
oes
This extraordinary outbreags has re-
vived interest in the belief fhats sprisg
and the strawberry season are Broduc-
tive Of numerous suicides While ths
theory IS decidedly unique jt has.
nevertheless. been borne out BY circum-
stances on several occasions.
The Strawberry Theory.
4 student OF suicidal mana. Clifford
Howard, assistant secretary 20 the 4J.s-
trict Commissioners. was the frs 20
start speculation on This strange theory.
Speaking OF the present epidemic, lie
said this morning:
1t IS q strange fact, but fbe records
show that suicides are more freuuent ia
spring than in any other time OF tas
year. reac--.ng their height IN June.
There must be some reason for tbfs.
and some time ago [ hit upon the straw
berry suggestion ss solution.
a study OF the question has develop
Ell that the eating OF this fruit inga-
riably produces mental depression Now.
suicide Is a direct result OF tcw spirits,
and II would seem that the berries had
some weight on the many cases OF self
destruction that occur every spring"
Captain Lords Body Found.
The finding OF Captain Lords body
solves The mystery OF his disappearance
sixteen months ago There Is every IN
dication that he committee suicide. h4v-
ing left note before his departure Civ
ing instructions as 10 the disposition
Of hIs money and effects
The body was found floating direeJIy
OF Marshall Hail by Anson Neal. a resi-
deng OF that section After bringing it
ashore with the aid OF several men he
informed the local police Of The discov-
cry. and the remains were brought %
Washington.
The identification was established last
night BY ID. NJ Magruder clerk IN the
state Department. with whose family
the captain had boarded for seventeen
years An artificial wooden leg worn
by the missing army officer was the chief
the dereliet bed
Bsfore his strange Disappearance on
The evening OF December % 1892. he
called at tae Losekam a hotel 10 see the
proprietor. Thomas Marshall, but aid not
snd him al home he then wrote note
10 Marshall. which read as follows.
Ny Dear Marshall. IN The event Of
ANYTHING happening TO me. please under
stand hat every cent due you mus, be
paid from The provisions CT my viii
IT " LORD.
That has been arranged IN my viii"
The rniss5ve was fled away By Mar
shan. together with a number Of bills
and notes for the payment Of these. each
amounting 10 $3.50, The sum Of re-
tired captain monthly salary.
50 FAR as Is known. Captain Lords
las, conversations was with Edward Pot
ter. an employe % the Losekam. he
said he intended 5akjns "a ride 10 Cabin
Johl Bridge. ami made no reDls when
someone remarked that the night was
bitter cold ior such trip. He then
boarded an f street ear and disap-
peared.
The pay OF Captain Lord has sccumu-
lated in his absence. and nov amounts
to s.. 00o. He received a pension OF Sc
a month. which Is included in the sum
After mis- retirement from the arm5
Captain Lord was employed At the Capt
tol as an indexer He worked Eron {