The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-23
Former Railroad Man Was Tired of Existence. For Many Years He Was h the Em- ploy of the, Western, Part of That Time Being stationed in
 Montgomery.
Advertiser Bureau,


 Selma, July 22, 1904.
 Dead, with a bullet hole back of his ear and a note pinned on his breast, telling of the deed, the body Of Daniel Fraser. a railroad man about 50 years of age. well known in this city, Mont gomery and Opelika, was found this afternoon.
 A few minutes before 1 o'clock, c. H. Dichnelt, while standing near a window looking east in the machine shops of the Union Iron Works. heard A pistol shot. Peering out of the win dow. he saw a white haired man trem- blingly holding a pistol in his grasp and with thumb and forefinger trying the hammer of the weapon. As MT. Dichnelt looked he caught the eye of the trembling man and then he saw him raise the weapon to his head. and before he could be interfered with, pull the trigger and topple over dead.
 Pinned to his breast, showing that the deed was premeditated, was found the following note written in steady and clear hand:
 "Whoever finds my body will please give the pistol with which I take my life to Mir. Curbow al Mrs. Varnon's. No. 602 Selma street. It Is his property. Give my watch and knife which arc on my person to Captain James Lauder dale, agent of the Western Railway. l hope my daughter and sister will for give me for this actl am tired of this life. I hope for a better one beyond the grave. Daniel, Fraser"
 Up to June 2Sth and dating back from last December, MT. Frazer had been employed by the Western Rail- way as transfer and check clerk. He Sub bar re he was a clerk in a compress. He had not been at the depot for several days after the 2Sth, and 1t being learned that he was on a spree, he was notified of his discharge. Several garnish- ments had come in and the fact that these creditors would not leave him enough to pay his board bill was nc doubt the cause of his despondency and led to the taking of his life. Only a few hours before the desper- ate deed was committed either his daughter or his sister. who live ir Opelika. had talked to Assistant Agent Marbury over the long distance tele- phone and requested that Captain Lau- | derdale be asked to inform MT. Fraser | that he had a home at Opelika as long as the speaker had one. and for him tc | come to that place at once. Messen' gers were looking for the man to de. | liver the message when the news came that he had committed suicide within | stone's throw of the depot.
 At the dinner table at Mrs. Varnon's | boarding house comment was made | upon the absence of Mir. Fraser and | the fact. which was already known | that he had taken his room-mate's pis- tol. There were only two loaded cart ridges in the five chambers of the pis- tol when examined by an Advertiser correspondent in company with Coro. ner Jud Brislin. But two shots were 1 fired. however in the hearing of those at the Union Iron Works.
 Mir. Fraser had been connected with the Western Railway of Alabama fol many years. Long ago he was chiei clerk and was then promoted to claim agent Later he was the joint agent at Montgomery of the Central of Geor. gia and the Western Railway He af. forwards went to Opelika. and received employment in the compress. Captair l Lauderdale. who has known him fol thirty-five years. states that he was ont | of natures noblemen. that he was ad. dicted to the drink habit, but has al. | ways been a gentleman