Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-03
CERTIFIES TO SUICIDE
CoRoNER's DECISION IN CASE OF
THOMAS DONALDSON.

Leaving no note or other message to let
his relatives know why he was tired of
life, Thomas s. Donaldson, fifty-two years
OF age, turned on the gas yesterday morn
ing In his room, at 926 E street northwest,
and accomplished sef-destruction. It was
not until some time after the body was
found that any one discovered his identity.
Several persons who had known Donald
son called at the house, some Of them par
ucipating in the investigation, but the face
OF the dead man was buried in the pillow
and the identification was thereby delayed.
There was nothing of value found in the
room, and the landlady suggested that 1t
was case Of down and out" Other
!cdgers had committed suicide in her house
before she moved to E street. and she said
new one to her.
But she said, there was no way that
could have prevented it. When a man
wants to take his life he is bound to sue
ceed.'
She had no idea who the unfortunate man
was. She said he had called at her house
ana said he had been sent there by Mr..
sweet, plumber, and the landlady gave
MN small room on the top floor of the
mouse. He was seen when he returned to
the house late Saturday night and went to
his room. Nothing more was seen of him
until his body was found about 10 o'clock
yesterday morning
The odor Of gas was detected when the
landiady went about the building to do her
routine work. She went to the room &C.
cupied by Donaldson and found that the gas
was escaping from there. The door was
forced open and Donaldson's body was
found upon the bed.
Had Served at Morgue.
donaldson had been employed as assistant
OF the morgue a few years
ago ana mad become familiar with the cases
OF unfortunates who had committed suicide
Dy lnhaling gas. He prepared for suicide
by securely fastening the door and window
and filling the crevices with pieces of paper
TO prevent the escape of the gas from the
room. After arranging the door and win
doW the tip was removed from the gas fix
lure and donaldson went to bed to die. The
erect or the poisonous gas it is believed,
caused him to turn upon his stomach and
bury his face in his pillow.
coroner hewitt reached the E street house
a snort while after the finding of the body
and was greatly shocked upon recognizing
the face Of his former employee. The de-
ceased was a native of Virginia, having
been born few miles below Alexandria.
He was plumber, but had not worked 1T
employed in the District fire department
and had also worked as starter at the Az
street barn.
Since he gave up his position at the
morgue about two years ago he spent his
time with relatives in this city and Vir-
ginia.
A son Of the dead man called Mt the E
street house yesterday and identified the
body. The son was surprised to know that
his father had been in the city, he had
been in the habit of staying at the latter's
house upon the occasion of his visits here.
1t is stated that Donaldson had been adj
dicted to the use of intoxicants and that
his mind had probably become affected.
Coroner hewitt gave certificate showing
that Donaldson had committed suicide, and
the son of the deceased had an undertaken
take charge of the body.