Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-15
Suicide of Albert Relyea,
Treasury Division Chief.
WAS IN I'LL HEALTH
HEAD OF REDEMPTION DIVISION
FOR MANY YEARS.
The Shooting Caused CONSERVATION 1T
Depart,nent-Used Pistol While
at His Desk.

| Sitting in his chair at his desk in the
| Treasury Department about las O'clock
this afternoon, Albert Relyea. chief of the
| redemption division of the treasurer's office,
! living at 2106 Q street northwest. shot him.
self in the left side OF the head with a big
| Colts army pistol and was taken to the
| Emergency Hospital fifteen minutes later in
dying condition. His death followed at
| the hospital about 2:25 o'clock
| Deputy Coroner GIazebrook was sum
moned and viewed the body few minutes
| later. He has not yet given a verdict OF
| suicide
| The shot was fired when no one was
| looking. The room was full of clerks. but
| Mr. Relyea had planned the whole thing
| so quietly that not soul could anticipate
his intentions until the sharp crack OF "A
| pistol caused them TO look up and see
| their chief fall backward and his head
drop over the back of his chair. He was
! breathing hard and was unconscious. A
big hole in the left side of his head from
which blood was running, together with
blood ooZing from his mouth, told where
| the shot had been placed
Wild Scene Ensues.
| Immediately there was a wild scene in
| the series OF rooms over which Mr.. Relyea
was the head Women became bystericaI
| and people crowded into the iron-bar
| doors as fast possible. Ellis Fl. Roberts.
United States treasurer hurried to the
scene and took charge The admission of
various people was stopped far as pos
! sible and in short time order was re-
| stored somewhat Crowds of people focked
| in from other portions of the treasury and
| from the streets outside and gazed through
the iron gratings at Mr.. Relyea's body,
which had slipped TO the floor from the
| chair In which he sat- Friends tried to do
| something for the dying man before the
| physicians from the hospital arrived. They
| wiped the blood from his mouth and raised
his head as gently as possible.
> The Shooting was done with one of the
large Colts revolvers that are supplied 10
| Batehmen and other treasury officials. 1t
had been in the desk of Mr.. ReIyea for a
| number OF years. Officials throughout the
series of rooms under his care were sup
| piled with the same caliber and make or
pistols The great volume of money In
| their keeping made 1t essential that there
should be weapons for protection against
any dash that might at any time be made
by daring burglars.
This precaution was plainly seen to be
| necessary when the hundreds of packages
| of United States notes lying on top of each
| like desks are considered. Determined upon
| suicide, Mr. Relyea had evidently decided
| that he would take his life at the point At
which he had spent so many years and In
which his valuable services had often
| ceived the thanks OF treasurers.
Where the Shooting Occurred
Mr. Relyea's desk was situated at the
| west end of large room occupying the
| northwest corner of the basement of the
| Treasury Department.
| 1t was close to the basement door open
| ing on 18th street where G street inter
sects Mr.. Relyea always sat with his face
toward the east, and in front of him, di-
! vided by a partition of iron framework,
| were a number of male and female clerks,
all picked and trusted people in their re-
! spective works They sat bending over
! their desks, counting money and going
| through the d lily routine.
! Mr. Reiyea sat near the basement cor
ridor running east and west OF the north
| end of the building and was in PLAN view
| of one of the iron-work doors Running
back of him was corridor that Joined to-
gether the series of rooms over which he
! had charge. and along this corridor were
| situated "a number OF vaults for the re-
ception of the money that was to be han
| died 1t was not necessary to step out into
| the main corridor to reach the vaults and
| various rooms under Mr.. Relyea.
| 1ll-dealtn ASstBHSu dS SduSc.
No reason could be assigned by any one
| for the suicide except i'll health. For some
| time Mr.. Relyeas health had been failing.
He had begun to lose his hearing and suf-
| fered from another trouble which the ply
/ sicians told him could not be cured with
out an operation. lie dreaded such an
| operation which is not usually a serious
one and told Treasurer Roberts of his
| fears. When complaining some yesterday
his fellow-cierks joked him and told him
| they proposed 60 bundle him up and ship
| him off TO some place where his health
would get better.
He took this good naturediy but said he
| had been worse sick than his friends had
| surmised AT no time. however. did he
| mint at suicide and no person had heard
| him Indicate this as his intention.
Where the Shooting Occurred.
Mr. Relyea had been chief Of the redemp-
| ton division OF the treasurers Office ever
since the first administration of President
| Cleveland He was appointed chief of the
| division during that administration, coming
| here from near Bridgeport. Conn. His
| father had been Presbyterian minister in
| Connecticut and Mr. Relyea had been well
| educated. He was about fifty-three years
| old. and was much liked by every one in the
treasury.
| No one gives thought co the possibility
| that anything could have been wrong with
| his accounts or his office, and the generally
! accepted view is that his failing health had
caused him TO grow morose.
Mr. Relyea leaves widow and one child.
| the latter daughter seven or eight years
| old of whom he was very fond. Up to
| late hour this afternoon none or his fam .
| lily had called at the hospital, but many or
| the clerks of his division were there seek
| ing information to his condition.
Investigation Ordered.
Notwithstanding the belief of Treasurer
Roberts that there was nothing wrong with
| the accounts of Mr.. ReIyea he has decided
to make an investigation of the affairs I'm
der Mr.. Relyea. This will not necessitate q
recount of the money in the vaults and
other places, inasmuch as Mr.. Relyea made
n statement each day Of the preceding
days business. Consequently. his affairs
were twenty-four hours of being up to date.
Treasurer Roberts is thoroughly satisfied
as to the honesty and integrity Of the dead
man, but, In view OF his own responsibility