Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-20
SHOT HIMSELF IN HEAD
JAMES JOSEPH GREBLE COMMITS
SUICIDE TODAY,
Worried Over the Loss Of an Express
Package-Not Suspected Of
Wrong Doing.

The loss OF an express package which
contained $500 caused James Joseph Greble
SO much worry that he committed suicide
this morning by shooting himself I'm the
head. He was employed as money clerk by
the United States Express Company and
lived at S21 NJ street northwest, where the
act was committed this morning. For
more than eighteen years Mr. Grebie had
been IN the company's employ and was con-
sidered one OF its most trusted employees
Not the slightest suspicion attached to him
in connection with the loss of the money
package and the company made good the
loss without calling upon him for the
amount the package had contained. This
did not seem to have satisfied Mr. Greble
ana he could not help worrying over the
incident. He had searched high and low
in his efforts to trace the missing package
Out without being successful. This morn
ing ne arose at the usual time and was
ABOUT the house with his wife and two
grown children who lived at the family
nome The presence of laudanum bottle
not IN Its usual place excited some sus-
picion. and. II Is thought. Mr. Greble prob
ably drank some OF the poison before no
used the pistol. He wrote a brief note Of
explanation. possibly last night. and ad-
dressed 1t to his wife. Shortly after
o'clock this morning Mr. Greble complained
TO his wife that he did not feel well
Suppose l make you a cup Of tea p the
wife suggested Perhaps the warm tea
will make you feel better"
The husband assented, and Mrs Grebls
ieft the sleeping apartment to go to the
kltchen She had hardly reached the
Kitchen when she was attracted to the
sleeping room by the report of a pistol Fol-
lowing the report she heard the noise madA
by the falling of Mr.. Grebe's BODY tJpon
entering the room in which she left her
husband only two or three minutes before
she was Mortified at the sight of his dead
Thn
were also there In a short time Assistance
was summoned, but there was nothing that
could De done for Mr.. Greble as life was
extinct. Precinct Detective BOYD was stand
ing in front of the house at the Tina tho
shot was fired. and he was the first person
OUTSIDE OF the family to respond.
The Coroner Arrives.
The detective reported the case To tbs
second precinct police station, and Coroner
hewitt visited the house later in the day.
he concluded from the appearance of things
In the room that Mr.. Greble had stood be-
fore the mirror when he fired the shot The
'puiiet had entered the right temple after
gong through the hat, and had passed en-
tirely through the head 1t was found i'm
peuoed In the wall. So far the coroner
was able to ascertain. Mr.. Greble had said
nothing to his wife or children to give them
life Ills
AS eSe' eHciciOit, came as a surprise to
his wife and children. 1t was reported to-
day, however. that he had said early this
morning that he was tired of living, and
that he dreaded getting old
IN the letter written by Mr.. Greble to his
wire he referred to the missing package,
ana said he was unable to make so large
an amount good His life insurance. he ex-
plalned would more than reimburse the
company The letter also contained enough
to show that the loss of the package could
not possibly have been prevented by him.
put nothing was said to reflect upon any,
Dody else In connection with the loss
Onlclals OF the express company went Ia
the NJ street house to extend their SYM
pathy to the members of the family. Mr..
Grebie. as already stated had been en-
ployed by the company for about eighteen
years and was held in high esteem by
everybody with whom he had worked Not
one of them ever thought for moment
that Mr. Greble knew anything about the
loss OF the money. The deceased was a
native OF pennsylvania and was iifty-fivs
years old. Arrangements for his funeral
had not been made this afternoon.