Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-05
boy COMMITS SUICIDE
VIM. E. Clark Fires Bullet Into
His Own Head.
EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY
Fear Of Death by Consumption
Prompted the Deed.
BROODING OVER POSSIBILITY
Dead Boy Had Been a Popular Usher
at Local Theater - The
Coroner's Verdict. .
OVER POSSIBILITY

William e. Clark, eighteen years old. an
usher at Chase's Theater, shot himself
through the head early this morning at his
home, 1408 I street northwest, dying in
stantly. His grandmother, Lydia G. Conk-
ling, with whom the boy had been living
was tn the room at the time, but before the
shooting he turned of the light, and she did
not see him raise the weapon to his temple.
Coroner hewitt viewed the remains about
2 o'clock this morning, and issued GER
tihcate by suicide by a gunshot wound
through the head. The body was afterward
removed to the undertaking rooms Of ].
William Lee to be prepared for burial. The
arrangements for the funeral have not been
made.
The boy had brooded over the fact that
he had consumption. His father and his
mother both died Of tuberculosis, and the
boy had been for some time declaring he
would kill himself rather than die of that
disease. Last November. his grandmother
states, the boy had a severe cold, and he
then threatened to kill himself. and did
take chloroform. but his grandmother
caught him before he had succeeded in
taking fatal quantity.
About four weeks ago. his grandmother
states the boy again contracted a cold. and
since then he had been unusually despon,-
ent. and had expressed the fear that he
would die of consumption His grand
mother tried to persuade him that he was
not afflicted with the disease, she says, but
1t seemed to do no good to talk with him.
Talked Of Suicide.
After performing his duties at the theater
last night the boy returned to his home,
and began at once to talk about suicide.
His grandmother went into his room, which
Is the front room in the second story Of the
house. and lighted the gas. The boy there
upon took off some Of his clothing. pretend
ing to go to bed.
I'm sick of it all. and there is nothing
In life for me-" he said. He continued to
talk along that strain for several minutes.
Finally he turned of the light as II to go 10
bed. His grandmother, however. fearing
the boy would do himself harm. lighted the
gas again. and again he turned out the
light.
I'm going to end it now and settle 1t
ALL" he said.
the boy fell to the floor. One Of the bullets
struck a camera lens on the center table.
but the other two went through CIark's
head scattering his brains about the room.
rived lying In a pool of blood in the center
of the room.
Shots Attract the Neighbors.
The shots attracted a number Of persons
to the house and the police arrived soon
notified and viewed the body, as stated, be-
fore it was removed from the place where
it had fallen. g. :
Mrs Conkling is nearly Frustrated by her
grandson's rash deed, and when seen by a
Star reporter this morning was i'll. She
stated that she knew Of no reason why her
grandson should have committed suicide e1-.
cept that he thought he would die of con-
sumption.
Clark was highly thought Of at his place
of employment, Chase's Theater. and he
was considered one of the most responsible
ushers at the theater. He contemplated
leaving his duties there next month to at
tend college. Mrs Conkling; the grand
mother Is q clerk in the Treasury Depart
ment.
The suicide was evidently premeditated.
Clark had purchased a new Harrington Il
Richardson revolver of .32 caliber. which he
had concealed in his bed. The weapon had
never been seen by his grandmother before
the shooting this morning.