Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-27
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
PETER BECKER HANGS HIMSELF
IN A GREENHOUSE.
Domestic Trouble and Other Causes
Said to Have Undermined
His Reason.

Peter Becker a caretaker at Mt Oiivet
cemetery. committed suicide Saturday night
by hanging. IL Is said his attempt to
drown his sorrows with strong drink and
his constant attendance at the cemetery.
taking care Of graves and burying the dead
formed a combination which was more than
his mind could stand. Prior to the time
of his domestic trouble Peter was a hard
working man and was OF a Jovial DISPOSE
ton. He was not strong enough to bear up
under the strain. however. and his actions
not long ago caused an inquiry to be made
into his mental condition. He was regard
ed by the physicians being sane enough
to remain out Of the asylum but Saturday
night he WAS insane enough to end his life.
The deed was committed In one of the big
greenhouses of the American Rose Com
pany. on the Bladensburg road. only a
short distance from Mount Olivet cemetery
He proved himself to be an expert hang
man. for he constructed a perfect moose
and gave himself sufficient drop from tie
rafters to cause a dslocation of his neck.
before ending his life he scrubbed several
notes on scraps OF paper intended to In
form those left behind of the troubles he
had endured while on earth.
Becker first came to the attention Of the
police several months ago. when he called
on the pastor of ST. Marys Church and
INDUCED in rambling conversation. He had
been drinking and there was sufficient
cause for the belief that his mind in
weakened condition. The pastor sent
word to the police. and detectives went to
the house They escorted Becker to police
headquarters. but he detained only A
short time. Later the police had reason to
make another investigation of his conduct.
and again he was discharged from custody.
Laughed at Their Fears
When Becker accepted position to assist
In burying the dead and caring for graves
In Mt Olivet cemetery friends predicted
that the scenes enacted there would wear
on him in a hurtful way. Becker only
laughed at them. He had worked in the
American Rose Company's houses and had
not been disturbed. and he saw no reason
why his employment in the cemetery should
be feared. At the time Becker first claimed
the attention OF the police his story was
that domestic troubles had resulted from
difference I'm religious belief between his
wife and himself. and II was because OF
this trouble that he called on his wifes
pastor for assistance.
Saturday night. after his employment In
the cemetery had ended for the week. he
returned to his former place OF employ
ment in the greenhouses. and scrubbed
notes on scraps of paper bag. Then he
constructed a moose. which he placed about
his neck. He stood upon one OF the flower
benches in order to fasten the end of the
clothes line about he rafter. In a short
time all over and the deed had termi-
mated the legal proceedings which had been
started for the purpose OF bringing about
Il legal separation between him and his
wife The body was not discovered until
o'clock yesterday morning. when George
Stewart entered the greenhouse to begin
his work for the day.
The Coroner Summoned.
There were choice roses and other flowers
all about the building in which Becker had
ended his life. and there was evidence OF
the fact that he had cut a few of the roses
just before he climbed upon the bench and
took the fatal crop. The police were notified.
and Coroner hewitt was summoned later in
the morning. At the time the body
discovered it was evident that life had
been extinct several hours. Coroner New
lit gave the necessary death certificate and
the body was removed to the morgue.
The deceased was thirty-five years old.
His wife and one child survive him. His
wife took charge Of the body. Becker in
his letters requested that his brother in
Germany be notified of his death. and that
his money be given to his child.