Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
BOOKBINDER'S SUICIDE
JOHN E. DUFFY STRAN0LES HIM
SELF WITH NECKTxE.
Had Been in Ill-Health and Was Des-
pondent-Was Dead When
Found.

The lifeless body Of John E. Duffy was
found in his room in the house of Mr.. Hor-
rigan 113 II street northwest, this morn
ing shortly after Z o'clock. He had COM
mtted suicide by stransling himself The
condition of his remains indicated that life
had been extinct many hours before the
CHASTITY discovery was made.
Mrs. Horrgan ent to Duffy's room and
knocked on the door to awaken him in time
to go to work this morning. but received
no response. Thinking he had probably left
the room, she opened the door and entered.
Across the bed that had not been disturbed
| she saw his head hanging from clothes
tree. She saw no signs of life and hasten
ed to notify her husband and other men in
the house. Ii was thought there might pos
! sibly be chance TO save his life, but the
men who were first to reach the room dis
covered that the body was rigid and that
death had evidently occurred many hours
before.
Sixth precinct policemen were summoned
and the coroner gave permission to take
down the body. 1t was then discovered
that Duffy had used two neckties with
which to accomplish his purpose. His coat
was the only garment he had removed and
the tie he was wearing he had fastened to
the tree. A second tie he had fastened
securely about his neck and had undoubted-
ly choked himself almost into unconscious
ness with it before he dropped his head and
let MS weight De Heiu ny tIle Tic HS WoiS
when he returned from work yesterday.
No written explanation of the deed was
left by Duffy. His friends say he had never
given any intimation of such an Intention
although he had been sick and his demeanor
WIS such as to lead others to believe he
was much depressed during recent days.
Was a Bcokbinder.
Duffy was a bookbinder by trade and had
been employed in the government printing
off fpr a He about
forty years old. Three years ago he came
here from Boston, Mass. and accepted
position under the government. He went to
Mr. Horrigan's house to live about two
years ago. At the government printing OF
flee he was regarded as an excellent Work-
man. During the time he lived at the II
street house he had been regular In his
habits. always kept good hours and gain
ed many friends. He was not drinking
man and had saved considerable money
The police found more than $2O0 IN MS
pocket book and it is known that he has
a bank account of several hundred dollars
more
eral physicians and had taken a large
quantity of medicine. 1t Is believed by
some of his friends that there was an
opiate in some of the medicine he had
taken and that his mind had been af-
fected by it, He was at work yesterday, as
usual and returned to his room between
5 and 6 O'Clock. He was not seen about
the house afterward. and, 1t Is oeneveo ne
ended his life shortly after reaching his
room Nothing in the room had been dis
turbed and there was no indication OF MS
having done any reading or writing:
President Barrett of the Bookb1nders
Union was an early caller at the house.
There were other members OF the union
with him. and arrangements We're naue III
Undertaken Costello to take charge or the
body after the coroner had finished with
the case Coroner hewitt viewed the pooy
later and gave the necessary death GER
tincate without holding an inquest MI
Barrett sent dispatch to sylvester Duny,
a brother of the deceased, who conducts
the Central House, at Woburn, Mass. notl-
flying him of the death: A sister, MIS-.
Annie E. Cotter lives at Y Congress street
Lynn, Mass. .,or+
sylvester Duffy was in this city short
time ago and tried to induce his brother 70
90 to Massachusetts for few days ior the
benefit of his health. The latter deeEhed 10
60. but said he expected to visit his reia Ella
the hody will be sent to Massachusetts for
interment.