Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26

1.-THE first suicide that l remember IN the
Treasury Department" said an off1ciai the
other day, was In the administration OF
President Harrison. There was big lrlsh-
man in the department named Connolly lie
was a giant In size and strength. Capt.
Cobaugh. the present captain of the WATCH
held the same position at that time. One
night Connolly came in to report for duty
considerably under the influence of whisky.
Capt. Cobaugh told him that he was not In
a fit condition to come on duty. Connolly
defied his chief and said that there was no
body who could put him out of the treas
ury. With a quick shove Cobaugh pushed
him out of the door and closed the iron
doors in his face.
Connolly tried to break them open and
get in, but could not.
Capt. Cobaugh had nothing in the world
against the man, but in some manner Con-
nelly got the impression that the captain
was his enemy, and brooded over 1t. One
night Connolly took one of the big Colt re-
volvers, used by all of the treasury watch
men, and crawled way up in coal vault
under the north end of The treasury. He
wrote a note on piece of brown paper,
and laid it on his breast. 1t contained
these words: Folger (meaning Secretary
F0lger) and Cobaugh are my enemies.
will come back and haunt them
He put the pistol to his head and blew
out his brains. 1t is thought that he had
intended to kill Capt. Cobaugh. as he had
Cobaugh that afternoon. 1t so happened.
however. that Cobaugh did not enter the
treasury in time for Connolly to put him on
the same list with himself and he there
fore escaped. Capt. Cobaugh is willing to
give oath to the effect that he has never
seen Connelly's ghost, and never believes
that he will have such an experience.
''The second suicide occurred two or three
years ago. but did not happen In the Treas
ury Department proper. Waterman EN-
ployed in the Winder building, which is &C.
cupied by the auditor for the War Depart
ment, put pistol to his head and blew out
his brains. The third suicide was that Of
Mr.. Albert Relyea a few days ago."
x x x II
\ queer little man who visits Washington
once every year. and who has put in his
appearance for the winter of 1904-5, takes
keen delight in telling how he once beat
the District vagrancy law to a standstill.
The little fellow lost his lower limbs in
railroad smashup about ten years ago and
Is compelled to walk on pair of odd
looking shoes, which are fitted to his knees.
He is known among his fellow tourists
as Charley the Singer" for the reason
that he earns his living by singing popular
topical songs about town, but principally In
saloons. About two years ago. while on
OF his visits to this city, Charley en-
countered the law us 1t was expounded by
stalwart policeman, and came out win
ner.'' as he expresses it.
He was on Pennsylvania avenue near the
Peace monument, surrounded by a crowd
and was singing 1.-The Good Old Summer
Time when the policeman stopped on the
rim of the crowd. At the conclusion of the
song Charley began to pass his hat round
for the usual collection, when the police
man stepped up and said:
You'd better move along now or I'll vag
you"
For what?" asked Charley
For begging on the street"
"Why don't you arrest that one-finned guy
over yonder?" queried Charley, pointing to
l,l Lot - l.
arms. and who was in the act of receiv-
ing a nickel for one of his pencils.
He amt begging" replied the big police
man. Hes selling lead pencils 1t is not
against the vagrancy law to sell anything.
You are begging. If you was selling 1t
would be different"
well. If that's the case" replied Charley
with a broad smile, 81 plead not guilty.
Mister Policeman. for I'm selling, too-Tm
selling me voice to this crowd, and It's
better goods nor them bum lead pencils"
X y X X
"A horse knows the watering troughs on
the route constantly covered by 1t as well
as the tippler does his favorite places for
quenching his thirst" remarked the driver
of one of the local parcel delivery wagons
to a Star reporter the other day. LAS the
animal approaches a trough you will notice
him cock up his ears and put on an air of
expectancy prepared for the command to
stop that he feels Is coming. Once the
driver pulls the line indicating turn in
the direction of the trough the intelligent
animal steps nimbly toward 1t. and when
he has reached what he knows to be the
proper distance he will halt and await the
loosening of the check rein by the driver
so that the water can be reached. A horse
with the check rein fastened always waits
for the driver to loosen 1t. but one without
the check will Immediately place his nose
in the tank"
X * K x
ut is peculiar condition of affairs
" hen prisoner can curse policeman and
all kinds OF bad language without
making himself liable under the law" re-
marked bluecoat to Star reporter one