The Washington times., 1905-02-16
BOSTON SlJICIDE.
IDENTIFIED As 4
WASHINGTON MAN
Was Hiram McCoIIurn.
War Department
Clerk.
NO MOTIVE Is KNOWN
Mind May Have Been I'm
balanced by Over
study.
NO MOTIVE IS KNOWN

His mind unbalanced by overstudy,
and despairing OF a cure for insomnia
from which he was a sufferer. Hiram
McCoilun1. CLERK in the medical de-
| nent, and Il student in the medical ce-
partment of the George Washington
University, committed suicide In q hotel
at Boston, Mass, yesterday
McColinm left this city early Sunday
morning. supposedly for a trip to Phiia-
delphfa on business. Nothing further
was heard from him by his friends until
Tuesday morning, when letter from
him. was received dated from New York
by L. A. McAfee, q feilow-cIerk in the
War Department, and an intimate friend
OF the deceased. The letter, written on
Waldorf-Astoria paper, was purely Of z
personal character. and gave no intina-
ton of suicidal intentions.
Wrote Several Letters.
McCollum wrote several other letters
from New York, among them one ten
dering his resignation as clerk in the
War Department, where he received a
salary Of s., 200 per annuIa. and another
| resigning his position as president oE hls
class at George Washington University
In none Of these letters was there the
| siiS14ttSs OF MS purpose ZInG
| Idea was conveyed that he had been
called away on business and r.ight not
| be able TO return.
McCollum Is said to have been unable
| to sleep for several nights He had
/ been spending every available minute In
| preparing for his nlidwiater exanlina-
ttons. which We're soon TO be held AS
| president OF his class. arrangements for
| the class banquet TO have been given at
the Snorenam Hotel tonight. were in his
/ care. He took much interest in the af-
| fair, and was troubled because ne could
give SO little time to the Preparations.
! His Mind Unbalanced.
For several weeks past every moment
/ has been crowded with work, and this,
joined with his insomnia, IS thought to
have unbalanced his mind.
McColIun, with two feliow-students.
had a suite OF rooms in the home Of
| Mrs, w. S. Be1der. 1416 Hopkins street
/ northwest He went TO his room early
Saturday night. passing several hours
in study. and then retiring for the night.
Unable 10 sleep. he arose shortly after
midnight He was heard by Mrs Reld-
er pacing the floor. He appeared at
breakfast about 10 o'clock the next
morning. pale and haggard. and carry
ling suit case
Ate Little Breakfast.
McCollun was unusually quiet. but de-
clared that he felt himself to be per-
fectly well. He ate but little breakfast.
Mrs. Belder asked him why he carried
the suit case.
II have a little engagement in PhiIa-
Ideiphis that must be kept" he replied,
land I'm late now"
Won't you stay until the boys eons
down to breakfast" urged Mrs. BelGer.
| MeCoIlum hesitated, and started back.
He checked himself however, and pick
inc up his suit case rushed out OF the
| door.
Il can't do it. I haven't time 20 wall
for anyone"
These were the last words TO his
friends.
In New York Over Night.
: Going to the Pennsylvania station hs
took The II o'clock train going TO New
York. where he stayed over night ane
next day. Monday evening he took {
train Tor Boston Mass. and, arriving IL
that place went to the information bu
= reau and asked TO be directed TO first
class hotel.
He was sent to the Touraine. wheE.
he registered as "A. B. Neal. Chicago.
|
| he went Immediately. and no furthe
attention was paid TO him by the no
/, tel employees
At the time of the discovery OF u
body, it was thought from the nam
| on the register. together with We:
| worn copy of Macbeth. on several o
whose pages the name. "a. B. Nea-
'0l N w that the deceased was
/. | student of the Northwestern University
| in Evanstown III A telegram was sen
$ to the authorities of that city, but a
n examination of the university rosie
= failed TO discover record or any sue
Y individual.
p Word From Boston
In the meantime. McCollums Rooms
: | mates had become alarmed at his an
= sence and had made Inquiries. News Q
n his disappearance reached Capital
|, Boardmah. who sent for the youn
) men, and informed them that he la
! just received a dispatch from the Bos
a ton police authorities. asking help 9
= identify a young man, Thirty TO TAD
tv-five years old, feet 10 inches tssli
q us pounds in weight; dark conplesS
q ion: black hair. brown eyes; Wiz
= shoulders and legs much tanned.
: THE above young man, the dlspatc
u read COMMITTED suicide in this cit
by taking chloroform and morphine.
ASK him. said Mr. Nhippier. Iel
low-cierk and intimate friend OF McCoi
lum, who had responded 70 Captain
Boardu,an's summons, whether or no
the man has a scar his left leg
IS heavy gold crowns on his upper teetf
al .sMcColiu4n spent all his time on tn
d river last summer. and his shoulder
o and arms got very brown, If that sui
i eide has the scar on his leg, an
crowned teeth. il IS McCollum.
Boston was called up By the long-dis
" tance telephone. and the inquiry made