The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-31

Broodmg because Ernest Reed. a motor
man on the Metropolitan Railroad, would
not marry her. Gertrude Lamkin twenty
two years old, committed suicide in Balti-
more yesterday afternoon, by drinking
wood alcohol. She was employed in the
home of Prof Wood. of Johns Hopkins
University, and il was in the kitchen 81
his home at $40 ST. Paul street, that she
was found unconscious. Medical all WAS
Immediately summoned, but she died
without regainiug consciousness.
The girl. il is said, had been en3mored
OF Reed. who was her second cousin, and
whose parents she had visited here only
a month ago. She telegTaphed him to
meet her at the railway station IN Baiu-
more. on Monday afternoon at TWO
O'Clock He did not appear at the APP
pointed time and shortly afterWaTd she
IS said to have received letter from him
which prostrated her. From the moment
the letter came the young wJmal became
lnorosc. and all efforts ga the part OF the
Wood family failed 60 console her.
Yesterday morning she procured a large
bottle OF wood alcohol which was kept
sbout the house for cleaning purposes
In the presence of the cook and friend
she poured the contents of the bottle
into a glass and drained H. The young
woman was a native OF Westmoreland
CouDtv. Va. and is survived by three
brothers. one of whom is said 10 live
in this city and three sisters
Reed Greatly Agitnted.
Aotorman Reed. who is employed on
the Congress Heights road, was greatly
agltated when he heard Of the young
woman's death
In speaking of the motive for the deed
he said:
II am much surprised and very sorry,
but / cannot see that I am in any way
responsible for her act She was my
second cousin. and I have known her
ever since l can remember. was fond
of her and always knew she thought a
lot Of me. but I am certain I never gave
her any reason 20 think I desired to
marry her. nor did she ever mention the
matter 10 me. / received a telegram
from her one day last week. asking me
TO come over and see her, but I was I'M
able TO get off, and wrote her TO that ef-
feet.
THE telegram indicated thar she
. wanted TO see me on important business,
but I did not realize that she contem-
plated taking her life il read. Come
over to-day at o'clock. / want TO see
You badly.
Il made everx effort 60 get away from
work. but the telegram arrived so late
that # was impossible for me to DO so.
Here Three Weeks Ago.
IT saw her last about three weeks ago
here i'm Washington. where she was visit
ing my parents ~ our home. I was as
kui ia her as possible. and took her
about brt I had u0 iGea that she consid-
cred mE atten.iains seriously for a mo-
n,ens Ny family and hers have been
intimate for many years and I have Wis
lied her home often. from my boyhood up.
I know that this viii be q hard blow FOR
her father as she was always a great
favorite with him Her brothers. too.
viii feel il keenly. II ] had known that
this thing would happen. I would have
been glad 10 do anything in my power TO
console her. but this is the first intima-
ton I have had that she even thought
of my marrying her"
Reed is a good-looking fellow. twenty
one years old. and from mis- manner OF
speaking it was evident that the news
of the girls death had been a severe
shock 90 him He has been in the en-
ploy of the car company for two years.
He lives with his parents and brother at
22 Bates street northwest. and the
neighbors Vf the family characterize him
as an exemplary young man.