The Washington times., 1905-08-18
SUICIDE REVEALS
HIDDEN IDENTITY
Man Bore Assumed Name
Twenty-Five Years.
WIFE WAS IN IGNORANCE
Alleges Millionaire Brother, Charity
Worker, Let Him Starve and Suffer
Eviction From Home

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. IS.-De-
spondent because too old to obtain work,
spurned by a millionaire brother, as he
alleges. and too proud to look for as
sistance from anyone else. Joseph A
Thompson, of 1908 South Hicks street,
committed suicide in Fairmount Park
by taking cyanide of potassium, leaving
two letters revealing to his family his
real name.
For the last twenty-five years he was
known in this city as Joseph A. Thomas,
and not until his tragic death did his
wife and four children know that he had
any other name.
His reason for assuming the name
OF Thomas is 4 mystery, as great one
10 his family as 70 anyone else.
The only plausible explanation thar
could be offered was that he lived l1ts1. un9er
another name to please his wealthy
brother. William r. Thompson, Pitts
burg banker and millionaire, from whom
he is said TO have received checks to
help keep the wolf from the door since
he lost his employment several years
ago
No More Checks.
Recently. however. the checks ceased
to come. and the proud. dignified man
whom everybody knew as Thomas lived
Very meagerly.
Finally, a notice of eviction was re-
ceived from his landlord. and with e
heavy heart he began to pack up mis-
furniture and household belongings. with
the intention of quitting the house on
Saturday ay-the time limit OF the notice.
It seems almost as though ne aTterWerd
timed his own death so that he could
be buried from The house before his
family would be compelled TO VaciT=
By his side, when his body was found
on bench IN FairmOunt Park, near Bel
mont Mansion, was the order requiring
him TO leave the house by the end or the
Week under penalty of having his be
longings put into the street. In his
pockets We're found two letters, one ad-
dressed To his wife and the other 10
newspapers in which he reveals his
identity 10 his family
Reveals Identity.
The first letter addressed TO the pa
pers, is as follows
philadelphia. August 16, 1861 am
Joseph Alexander Thompson. OF Pitts
burg Pa. son OF Andrew Purdy Thomp-
son, who for years was the agent OF the
Young Mems Bible Society Of Allegheny
county. My bIother- William X IhOnp-
son, OF Sparkhill, y. Y. knows my cir
cumstances. and VIII not help me or my
family.
been for the past five months, but they
would not help me: de allowed ms ms
brother. DR. 4. D. THOMPSON 70 staGHe 3SSI
TO death Ia Philadelphia in 1873 or 1880,
and also his -, J. z. Thompson
OF Penn avenue. Pittsburg, TO fall so low
that he had to send him 10 F4orida,
where he died, and SJfn ne gives Soo,VJt
TO the W. < / Library.
What have /, as his brother. 10 look
for l have been q slave TO hard work
for forty years. and, as Virginia says,
There is no way left but this.
JOSEPH a. THOMPSON,
''I9eS South Hicks street
p. 81 have lived the last twenty
fva vears under an assumed name
The second letter is addressed Ito the
most loving and ChriSJ-lIke woman on
earth-kate Spangler Thomas, and Is
IS follows:
"Only IN the Way"
You are SUI young woman and
am too old 10 stand in the way o. what
might be = pleasant and happy future
for YOU and the children. / cannot gel
work on account of my age. SO 1 am ONLY
in the way
Brother VIII will help YOU when I an
gone for charity's sake. While / liVec
lie would claim that you had q husband
10 help You
gently and kindly with you and my liv-
ing children. Unworthy as i am TO you
and Ihe children. / leave 1GJe kisses. j
* al have 20 give you.
''YOuT unhappy and unworthy hus-
band. JOSEPH \. THOMPSON
''P S.-I have lived the past twenty
five years under an assumed name Ny
brother William K Thompson, of Pitts
burg. now at SVarkhilt. \. Y. knew al
Ihe time Of nay double life, from the time
your first ct2isd was born. TO make yol