Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-05
TWO COMMIT SUICIDE
PERSON MAKES UNSUC-
CESSFUL ATTEMPT.

Excessive use of alcoholic sCimulants the
police were told last night, caused Harrie
Z. Milburn, carpenter, to commit suicide
yesterday afternoon. He ended his life by
shooting himself twice back of the right
ear while In Libbey's lumber yard. near the
Northern Liberty market Milburn, who
was forty years of age and resided at 211
Morgan street northwest, was not at work
yesterday afternoon. Shortly before leav-
ing his home he told his wife that he was
going to witness a ball game on lot not
FAR from his home. His wife il is said,
exacted Promise from him that he would
not indulge in any spirituous liquors during
his absence from home.
Later in the afternoon the wife learned
that her husband had been seen under the
influence of liquor, and she communicated
with the police, asking them to find and
oetaln him. message was sent to the
several police stations directing that the
police look for him and arrest him. About
two hours later his body was found in the
lumber yard Milburn was not seen when
he entered the lumber yard and the first
that was known of his presence there was
when the reports of the two pistol shots
attracted the attention of men who were
working in the yard.
When the employees of the lumber dealer
went to make investigation they found
the body of Mnburn upon pile of lumber
with blood gushing from two bullet holes in
his head. the weapon with which he had
h'lltu uliilStlI DelIS lOulU on the ground
where he had dropped it. The police were
notified and the body was removed to the
morgue. Coroner hewitt made an investi-
cation and gave a certificate of death in
accordance with the facts. An undertaken
prepared the remains for burial later in
the day and removed them to the family
home. Mrse Milburn and several children
survive the deceased.
Woman Swallows Poison.
Coroner hewitt was called upon last night
to investigate the suicide of a colored
woman named Gwendolyn Layton, who
swallowed Carbolic acid while at her home
$40 South Carolina avenue. She took the
poison about $50 o'clock and died at the
Casualty Hospital about two hours later
Mrs. Layton, the police We're informed
was separated from her husband. She had
an interest in the property where she lived
but it is stated that her financial condition
had caused her to become depressed.
Mrs. Layton made no particular effort tC
conceal the fact that she had taken the
poison, and was found almo-- immedi te y
after she had swallowed the fatal dose
Instead of going to her room and locking
the door, she remained in a part of the
house where she knew she would soon be
found AS soon as the police were notified
OF what the woman had done they sum
moned the ambulance from the Casualty
Hospital and had her removed to that in
stltution, where death occurred about the
time stated.
Coroner hewitt had the police of the fifth
precinct make investigation. Inquiries
by the police convinced them that Mrs
Layton had become respondent over finan-
cial troubles, and that her domestic affairs
had also bothered her. A certificate of
death showing the woman had committed
suicide was issued by the coroner, and the
body was turned over to an undertaken to
be prepared for burial.
Attempt Unsuccessful.
action in the case of the third person who
attempted suicide yesterday, because the
poison did not do the work intended The maj
who took the poison registered at the Re
gent Hotel yesterday as w. /. Whisenhunt
reaching there about noon. He said he was
a telegraph operator from Andrews. N C
After being assigned to a room he asked
the clerk to call him in time for dinner
one of the porters was sent to his room
about $50 o'clock and he found the CUES,
In an apparently dying condition.
Inc porter reported to the clerk and a
rev minutes later the sick man was on the
table at the Emergency Hospital A mes
sage left on the dresser in the room gave a
pref explanation of the act. 1t read:
Il am tired of life, and this will end all.
am not drinking man, so do net attribute
this act TO that. i am simply weary of
life. w l. WHISENHTNT N ~,
There was a decided Improvement in the
condition of the patient after he had been
under treatment at the hospital for a short
time, and 1t was stated this morning thai
he was out of danger. Whisenhunt gave
his age as twenty-five years and said he re.
GREETED what he had done.