Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-10
MR.. HANN|S ENDS HIS LIFE
KILLED Himself In a Washington
Hotel Last Night.
TOOK OVERDOSE or lAUOANu
went to the Capital City Yesterday
Afternoon and Committed Suicide
While Mentally Unbalanced.


While Mentally Unbalanced.
Herbert T.. Hannis. one of the NEST
prominent men in Martiusburg and a
lif,long resident of the city, commit.
ted snicida last night in his room in
the Chicago hotel at Washington.
The startling intelligence Of the
rash act was conveyed in message
sent to this place shortly before noon
by Major Sylvester, chIef Of the police
department of Washington. and was
received by Chief of Police Sencin-
diver, who Immediately transmitted
the terrible news to relatives Of the
dead man.
The message from Major Sylvester
stated that the body Of Mr. Hannis
had been found in his room at a late
hour this morning. He was then cold
IN death.
The deed was accomplished by
sneans of bottle OF laudauum, the
dead man having take an overdose
presumably at an early hour last
aight.
Mr.. Hannis reached the city late in
yahe evening, and about o'clock pur-
chased the laudanum at drug store
naer the Chicago hotel. He register
Ell al the hotel at s; 80 o'clock, and al.
most Immediately went to his room,
leaving an order with the clerk to be
ealied at $50 the next morning. A
.4s0rter was sent TO his room at the
specified time, and getting no re
-GDonse TO his knock, looked over the
stransem. He saw the form of the
deed man lying on the bed and sum
R1oned the clerk. The door of the
Toout was opened and 1t was at once
seen that the man was corpse. The
empty laudanum bottle was lying be-
side him.
The dead man had left note on
the stand in the room, asking that
ilis family and two friends in Martins
burg, and real estate dealer in
Washington, be notified of his death.
There was no other message The
police department was at once noti-
fed, and before noon the family and
friends of Mr.. Hannis in this city were
in possession of the news of the trae-
edy. The remains were taken in
charge temporarily by the friend in
Washington, until the relatives from
here went for the body
Sheriff Gardner, brother-in law of
the dead man, accompanied by I'm
dertaker Wilen, left for Washington
on No, 6 this afternoon, and the re-
mains will be prepared for burial and
brought DAck TO tlllS city.
LEFT HERE YESTERDAY.
Mr.. Hannis left Martinsburg yester.
liay afternoon on Baltimore and Ohio
train No. for Washington, and it is
fully believed by his friends here
that it was his intention to commit
suicide in that city. He did not make
any attempt at secrecy about his de.
parture, and the belief that he was
then contemplating self destruction is
strengthened by the fact that hestated
only short time ago that If anything
happened him it was his desire that
iiis funeral should be conducted bv the
lodge of Elks, of which he was a
member.
The dead man was undoubtedly in
sane when he committed the terrible
deed. 1t is known that he has been
brooding for months over imaginary
troubles-things that had no founda
&ion except in the shifting fancies of
Sis mind-and fear hss been enter
tanned that he might end himself in
some violent manner.
WAS SECOND ATTEMPT.
The successful effort 10 end his life
aast night was the second attempt
made by Mr.. Hannis within a year.
About nine months ago he made des-
perate effort to kill himself while
mentally unbalanced at his home on
NNinchester anennn slashinn hin,nolf