The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-06
DESPONDENT MAN
KILLS HIMSELF
Ends Life With Pistol Shot
III Boarding House.
SAFE He WAS PROSECUTED
Seems TO Have Become Temporarily
Unbalanced Thinking he Was Vic
tim Of Many Wrongs.

Leaving a note. IN which he animated
that lac had been prosecuted. and ex-
pressing regret because of the incon-
Nenience and trouble he would cause his
landlady by ending his l3re in her house,
John IA. Brown. jr., a clerk in tine d.
vision of supplies and accounts OF the
Navy Department. sent a bullet into his
brain while IN his room at 1 Iowa Circle.
about Z o'clock last evening.
Other than saying he was sorry FOR
the persons that would be inconven-
ienceo by his tragic DEATH and praying
that God would have mercy upon those
who bore him malice he assigned 10
reason for his act. 1t is believed he WIS
suffering from temporary mental de-
rangement, and had been in IN health
lis Dody was turned over 10 a friend
-Asl nlSht, after Coroner hewitt issued
n certificate OF death By suicide. Ii was
prepared for burial and is now held for
). A Brown. OF Us Beacon Street south
east, Minneapolis. father OF the man.
Was Alone in House.
At the time Brown fired the fatal shot
he was alone in the house but the re-
port OF the revolver was heard by
Policeman Hendricks. of the Second
precinct, as be walked beneath the win
dow of the room occupied by the sui
eide. AS Hendricks rashed into the
house he found Mr. and Mrs II. H
Lockwood. caretakers o. the large resi-
dence, returning home from the office
of d physician. having left the house a
snort time previous TO look for medical
assistance Tor the young rOOmer. whom
they believed to be ont Of his mind
Hendricks went to the third floor
lay on the floor in the center of the
room, with his head i'm a pool OF blood
a wound ia his forehead made by a IS
caliber bullet and the weapon lying
Two minutes elapsed between the firing
cr the shot and Hendricks entrance,
Tut Brown was dead when the police
man examined him to ascertain whether
the heart was beating.
Finds Note on Table.
on n table of the room vas found
note which partially explained Brown s
motive for ending his life. Brown adj
dressed it to Mr.. and Mrs. Lockwood.
and it read
1T gives me pain to thipk OF the
trouble and inconvenience that what I
am about TO do will cause YOU. but
hope you will forgive me and that you
viii pray for me. ] will end what has
been a painful and sorrowful life.
The $40 which you viii ind attached
and repay you somewhat for your trou-
bic. Please be so kind as to notify my
father j. A. Brown. rs Beacon Street
southeast Minneapolis. Also L. A Mer-
rift, 154 + Street southeast. Goodbye
and God bless YOU
"P. S-The hatred and malice Of
those who have no cause 10 hate and
aggravate me are greater than I can
bear. May God have mercy on them and
give them repentance and better minds"
H. rEa~~-++ C,,,,,-,oro5
Mr. Merritt was Immediately summon
cd TO tie house. He said he had Known
the young man for thirteen years and
was intimately associated with him. be-
cause Brown worked in the Navy De-
partment. and Merritt was employed IN
the State Department.
Mr.. Merritt was at loss TO under
stand the act of his friend. as the lat
ter seemed TO be bright and cheerful
when he last saw him and had not a.
intlmated suicide at any time Mr. Mer-
rltt could not understand what Brown
meant by referring to persons who bore
malice and hatred toward him. as ne
knew OF no such persons. although he
was one OF Browns closest friends and
would most likely have been taken :ntO
confidence. 10 is said friends IN the de
partment N which the young man was
employed RAD advised him 10 go West
Tor has health, but he did not give the
matter any serious thought.
Took Bicycle Ride.
Returning from a bicycle ride yester-
day morning. Brown threw his wheel
against the fence and went directly TO
his room. When Mr. and Mrs. Lock
wood returned from dinner yesterday
afternoon they saw the bicycle and also
noticed Browns hat ON a peg on the hat
rack. Concluding that he had fallen
asleep Mr. Lockwood went upstafrs to
arouse him. When he knocked on the
door Brown responded from a room adj
joining the one which he had rented
When Mr.. Lockwood entered he found
the young man lying on q lounge. with
large beads o. Precipitation standing out
on his forehead, and his hands We're
cold
Thinking Brown had been stricken
with typhoid fever. Mr.. lockwood in
quired what doctor he wanted. MI
Lockwood explained this morning that
ne now believed that the young man