The Washington times., 1903-09-06
WALKER R. HOPKINS
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
Weapon Used a Thirty
Eight CalibeT Revolver.
A FORMER LETTER CARRIER
Deed Committed Near Cabin John
Bridge-Death Was Instantaneous.
Home on Parole.

Walker R. Hopkins, forty-six years
old, for fifteen years a letter carrier,
yesterday afternoon committed suicide
In a little bypath running from the
Little Falls station on the Cabin John
Bridge car line to the Chain Bridge,
by shooting himself In the mouth. The
weapon used was a thirty-eight caliber
American bulldog revolver the ball
passing entirely through the head. com
ing out near the crown. Death was
instantaneous.
1t was about 2 o'clock in the after
noon when three negroes - Howard
MOten. Edward Jones. and Joseph Par
ker-living in Halls Hill. Va, and en-
ployed at Smiths stone crusher, left a
car at the Little Falls station and start
ed to walk TO Chain Bridge. Half way
to the bridge they came upon the body
of man lying prone in the path, q re-
volver by his side. The frightened ne
groes rushed TO the house of Mr.. Rol-
lins nearby Mrs Rollins was at home.
and she sent man named Ferguson to
the High View Hotel, at the Virginia
end of Chain Bridge. who telephoned
the police of the Seventh precinct. The
patrol was?n was sent out in charge of
Policeman Fisher, and the body was
brought to the police station, where it
was met by Morguemaster schoneberger
and conveyed to the morgue
Clue as to Identity.
Arrived at the morgue a search was
made OF the clothing of the dead man.
One dollar and nineteen cents in money;
an illegible pawn ticket, from Fulton s
pawn shop, signed "W R. H." and,
finally. in an inner pocket, an envelope,
addressed to wv. R Hopkins. Carrier.
Station B." were found. BY this means
clue was established 10 his identity,
which was confirmed last night when c..
E. Campbell, a brother-inlaw of the
dead man, who is also a letter-carrier.
and lives at 621 Street northeast.
called at The morgue and identified the
body.
Hopkins was a native of Bladensburg.
Nd. He came 10 this city sixteen years
ago, and one year later was appointed a
letter-carrier. Thirteen years ago he
married. and his wife and two children
Winfield, twelve years old, and Edith,
seven-survive him. The family lived at
321 Thirteenth Street southeast. For
more than year Hopkins has been
suffering from melancholia, though hts
wife said last night that he had never
threatened suicide.
Peculiar Actions.
On July l last Hopkins resigned his
position, and few days later was ar
rested for peculiar actions with a BIZ
cycle. and it developed that he had de-
lusions about vast wealth to be made
from bicycles. He was committed to St
Elizabeth's Insane Asylum on July Z.
He speedily improved. and DR.. Stack has
been permitting him TO go home at in
teTvals on parole.
He came home on parole on Tuesday.
and conceived himself so much improved
that he made application for reinstate-
ment on October Is. He was told he
could have his position back IL he
brought his discharge from the hospital
Friday Hopkins sought DR.. Stack on this
matter. who put him of by telling him
tc come to see him on October l. Later
II the Aag ne went 70 q grocery store
and offered to work for no wages. saying
be must have employment. He was re-
fused. This preyed on his mind.
Yesterday morning. however. he SEEM
ed in unusually good spirits, ate break
fast early. then kissed his wife good-by.
At that time he had no revolver, and it
is supposed he purchased the weapon
during the morning. then went to the
spot where he shot himself. He left 40
message OF farewell
Hopkins shot himself within 100 feet
Of the spot where. four years ago,
Walter Frazier, for many years els *
in the Ebbitt House, killed himself in
the same manner.
When the facts had been made known
TO him. Coroner hewitt Issued Z certifi-
cate OF death by suicide, and turned tie
body over to Nalley's ndsrtaktng es-
tablishment. Funeral arrangements have