Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-10
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
SUICIDE OF cXPT. ROBERT y
WILKINSON.
alse Club teivssn entertainment
Large Lis Of tHtronesses-een-
erFs and Personal.
Special Correspondence of The Evening star.
ALENANDRIA.Ya.. March 10. 1866

ALEXANDRfA,V March 10, 1905.
Capt. Robert-V. Wilkinson of Baltimore
who was in charge of the dredging vessel
Chesapeake, committed suicide in his room
on board that boat between and o'clock
this morning by shooting himself with a
pistol in the right temple. Death was prob
ably instantaneous There were no wit
nesses to the act. the members of the
crew being engaged in other parts of the
vessel. and no one heard the shot. Captain
Wilkinson did not appear in response to the
call for breakfast and man was sent to
inform him that the meal was ready. The
messenger found the captain lying upon
a couch with a large wound in his head.
A pistol with one, chamber empty lay upon
the floor. The police department was noti-
fled and Coroner Purvis was summoned. 1t
appeared SO clear a case of suicide that the
coroner deemed an inquest unnecessary.
The remains were placed in charge of I'm
dertaker B. Wheat1ey preparatory to being
sent to Baltimore for interment.
To the members of his crew Captain Will
kinSOn made no intimatiOn of his intention
to end his life. They were at a loss to Sug-
eest the motive for the suicide, apart from
the fact that the captain had been in i'll
health for some time. Last year he spent
nine months in hospital in Baltimore and
was operated on for some affection of the
lungs. 1t was thought that he feared the
development of consumption.
On the desk in his room were found two
notes, both written yesterday, one to Mr..
Lee Lash of this city and the other to Miss
Maggie Wellslager, residing at 1920 Alice
Ann street, Baltimore The note to Mr..
Lash was brief, giving simple directions as
to the care of his remains. The note to
Miss Wellslager was unopened. 1t was stat
ed that Captain Wilkinson had been paying
Miss Wellslager attentions for some time
and 1t was understood that they were to be
married.
Captain Wilkinson was about forty years
of age. He had been in the service of the
Maryland Dredging Company for twenty
years and In charge of the chesapeake Tor
five years. The vessel has been lying at
wharf here all winter, during which time
the captain made the acquaintance of sew
eral people in Alexandria. He was regarded
as a cheerful, genial man, and his friends
know of no cause other than that OF III
health to explain his rash act.
General Matters.
The performance of the University of Vir-
gina Mandolin and Glee Club, under the
auspices of the Old Dominion Boat Club Of
this city, in the Opera House this evening,
gives promise Of being an event of musical
note. Several of the most popular matrons
of Alexandria have consented to act as
The cases of Edward browns, Lee browns
and Augustus Robinson, charged with steal
ing a quantity of copper, supposed to be
the property of the Southern Railroad Com
pany, were continued in the police court
this morning until next Tuesday.
Aman giving his name as Charles Johnson
and stating that ne was picture agent was
arrested on the charge of acting In an in
sulting manner to several ladies at whose
houses he called in his canvass. In court
this morning he forfeited So by on-appe ar
ance. II 91f
The funeral of Miss Mary Elaine Posey.
whose death occurred Wednesday, took
place this afternoon from the residence OF
her father, Mr. William Posey. 1904 King
street. Rev. Mr.. Wayt conducted the serv-
ices and the interment was made in Bethel
cemetery.
Miss Roxie Donfphan, who has been seri-
ously i'll with pneumonia at the residence
of her father MIR. "A. s. tDoniphan, on North
Washington street, Is improving.
Rev. George Garrett. formerly of this city,
is visiting friends here.