Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-07
FATAL DOSE OF ACID
WALTER JONES, 4 DRUMMER
COMMITS SUICIDE.
Declared He Had Been Robbed Of His
Employers Money - Coroner
Gives Certificate.

| Walter Jones. ifty-eight years old. who
was employed as a drummer for a whole
sale tobacconist in this city. and lived at
| los I'd street northeast, committed suicide
| this morning by taking small quantity OF
carbolfc acid He had frequently said he
| would take his life. but his threat was
never taken seriously, the matter being
| finally looked upon as a joke by his wife
and children. 1t was stated at his home
today that the deed was the result of his
continued use of intOxicants.
He returned hore under the influence of
| liquor yesterday and told members of his
| family that he had been robbed of $54 In
money not his own, and said he could not
face HIS employer again. His wife told him
1t was nonsense for him to talk that way,
and said she would make good the amount.
The much disturbed man said he felt the
hand of a man in his pocket and knew he
was taking the money, but he did not have
the strength to stop him. Between and
O'Clock in the evening he went to a drug
store and purchased five cents worth Of
carbolic acid.
q want to use it as wash he told
the clerk in the store. Its all right" he
added, ..as have been in the habit of
using it,
Jones, it is believed. intended to take the
acid last night, but fell asleep and probably
forgot about it until this morning, when he
was awakened in time for breakfast. After
getting up he repeated the remark he had
made about being unable to face his en-
ployer, showing that the loss of the money
worried him Addressing his son Walter,
who is employed in the navy yard, he said:
Walter. you had better stay home this
morning, as your mother will need YOU"
Swallows the Poison.
The boy thought his father was joking,
and laughed, but the request for him to
stay at home was repeated. The boy had
not gone to work when his father took the
fatal dose, for it was then only about 80
o'clock. Walking toward the door the de-
pressed man swallowed the poison and then
returned to the dining room, where his wife
and two sons were eating breakfast.
ut will all be over in a few minutes" he
remarked, throwing the empty bottle on the
table. Then he lay down on the sofa.
II believe father has taken the stuff" said
the son, when he detected the odor Of car
bolic acid on his fathers breath.
When it was realized that the husband
and father was in a serious condition, ply
sicans were sent for and policeman sum-
moned. The physicians, 1t is stated, thought
he might recover, and the members of the
family hoped for the best until he became
unconscious. Jones refused to allow the
doctors to treat him, and asked that he be
permitted to die at home He was hurried
to the Casualty Hospital, however, but his
condition was such that the physicians there
declared there was hope and death
claimed him about 10 O'Clock.
Native of Maryland.
The deceased was native of Maryland.
having been born near Croome, in Prince
Georges county. He came to this city many
years ago and has worked as a drummer
for several tobacco firms. Coroner hewitt
Investigated the case and gave the neces-
sary death certificate. The body was re-
moved this afternoon from the hospital
His funeral will probably take place t0mor-
row or Thursday. The pastor of Christ
Church, navy yard, will offlciate. The in
terment will be In Congressional cemetery