Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-28
SUICIDE INHALED GAS.
HAD MADE TWO UNSUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPTS BEFORE.
Drink and Debt Combined to Drive
Armstead Herrell to Self Destruc-
ton in a Vacant House.

His inability to meet the current expenses
of his household and his efforts to drown
his sorrow in liquor caused Armstead M.
Herrell to commit suicide last night by In
haling gas. He succeeded after two UNI
successful attempts His HfeIess body was
found In the bath room at 1oO4 9th street
northwest this morning by his son.
Last Saturday the Herrell family moved
from the 9Th street house to 506 K street
northwest. and it was in the latter house
that Herreil made two attempts to end his
life yesterday by turning on the gas Her
reii was forty-three years old, and had for
meriy lived at Berryville, Va, whence he
came to this city several years ago. He
was jobbIng contractor and had been en-
ployed by several real estate agents 1t is
SAID that he was good workman but dur
ing recent months had neglected his work
and spent much of his time in idleness and
drinking. He lad frequently Threatened
that he would take his life. Yesterday
morning he was about the city with COM
paMons, and showed the effects of LIQUOR
when he returned home Without having
much to saysto his family he went to the
upper floor of the X street house and
closed the door after entering the rear
room After he had remained there some
time his nephew went upstairs to see il
there was anything the matter.
Attempt Frustrated.
Uncle Armsteads up In the room with
the gas turned on, said the nephew To
Mrs. Herrell when he returned to the lover
floor.
remembering her husbands threats
s 81 any one attempt to save him
II ne attempted to end his life Mrs Her
rel went quietly to the upper floor and
looked through the transon There she
saw the man stretched across tie bed an
paren.iy Hfeless. Opening the transom to
permit the gas to escape from the room.
ano satisfying herself that her husband
was not dead, Mrs. Herrell returned to the
io"er Hoer and cut off the flow of gas at
the meter. few minutes later HerreIl de-
seemed the steps and turned on the gas
He remained in the basement with the pas
the house, N >A'ii iets
All during the afternoon his wife was
worried about him, and late in the dav sic
sent one of her children to the Gth street
mouse to see If he had gone there. He was
not there at that Time and a second visit
Was was paid TO the house. 1t was then after
round This morning Mrs Herrell sent one
OF her four children to the vicinity of the
Northern Liberty market to look for his
ia.her, ana when he reported that he had
not found any trace of him she sent her
son Hardee, seventeen years old, to the 9th
street house to make an investigation.
Fdpa is dead, said the boy when he re-
crying. N--N
He told his mother of what he had seen
in the bath room, and the police of the sec
ono precinct were notified of the occur
renee. An investigation showed that Her
rell had taken the key to the gas meter
from his home and had used it to turn on
the gas IN the vacant house. Acting Coro-
ner Glazebrook and the police made a thor
ough investigation of the case and a GER
tificate of suicide was given. Mrs Herrell
told DR.. Glazebrook that she had received
notice to give up the 9th street house, and
that although she moved from there last
SATURDAY. she had ba how
to the agent. Her husband had therefore
easily entered the vacant house.
The deceased had been a member of
Golden Rule Hive, No. 3, Maccabees. but
was in arrears, and the organization will
therefore not see to the interment of his
body unless its members do SO by voluntary
subscription. member of the order called
on the widow this morning and said he
would see what he could do in the matter of
having friends look after the funeral ar
engagements. The body was turned over to
Undertaken J. William Lee to be prepared
for burial. Arrangements for the funeral
have not yet been made