Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
PLANS TO BURN BODY
Veteran Sets Bed Afire and
Then Shoots Himself.
ACT DUE TO DESPONDENCY
Loss of Wife and Lack of Work
Cause Of Depression.
CALL FOR POLICE AND FIREMEN
Killing Of Dog in House Adds to Ex-
Observation-Disclosures
by the Coroner.
ACT DUE TO DESP0NDENCY
CALL FOR POLICE AND FIREMEN

Despondent because of the loss of his
wife and lack Of employment was the
cause given by friends of Frederick Luck.
fifty-two years of age, for his suicide
today. Luck. who was a blacksmith and
resided at 313 NJ street southwest, shot
himself through the heart. first setting
joining houses did not hear the report
Of the pistol, but they were awakened
by the smoke. Policeman Lester and
the members Of No. engine company
broke open the door, finding the body
on single bed in the lower front room.
the bedding ablaze. No time was lost
in moving the body from the bed and
extirguishing the fire.
1t was after o'clock this morning
when Mrs. Lottie Lanham. residing at
315 NJ street, detected the odor of smoke.
She thought something was burning on
the lower floor of her home. She hur-
riedly dressed her children and took them
out of the house. She then called to
John Taylor a neighbor, and told him
of the fire. Taylor notified Policeman Les
ter, and the latter summoned No. en-
CINE company.
Report of a Pistol.
Excitement was caused by the report of
pistol. Somebody's killed now a
man in the crowd outside exclaimed, max
ing an effort to enter the house.
The pistol shot was explained by the
throwing from an upper window of the
body of a dog that had belonged to Luck.
Policeman Lester had been compelled to
kill the canine after entering the house,
1t was with difficulty that the fremen
succeeded in extinguishing the flames
DIV hod ohor Thayy
confined the flames to one room.
Coroner Scents Mystery.
Coroner hewitt reached the house after
Policeman Lester had left the premises
and taken the weapon with HIM. and there
was nobody to give much information
about the affair or to explain the kill
ing Of the dog and of the throwing of
the carcass from the window. The coro-
ner was puzzled as to the blood stains
on the stairs and in the front room on
the upper floor.
THE man could not have shot him.
self through the heart on the upper floor
and then gone to the lower floor and start
ed the fire." the coroner declared.
On the top step was a pool Of blood,
and across the floor of the front room
were stains that had been made by the
dragging of the carcass of the dog. Sew
eral spots Of blood were also on the sill
of the window. A careful examination of
the floor and stains soon convinced the
coroner that they had been made by the
dragging of an animal although he was
not satisfied with the conditions until
Policeman Lester had been found to give
the information that he had killed the
canine. Neighbors told what little they
knew of the life of Luck, and the coro-
ner gave certificate of death from sui
eide. p.
Native of Germany.
Luck was a native of Germany. Several
years ago he married Mrs. Bessie Cartti.
a widow, whose son, William GARTH, sailed
with the fleet from Hampton roads last
week. Mrs Luck died about two months
ago. and her remains were inferred in
Congre ssional cemetery. Her son was at
home at the time Of her death, but short
Iy afterward, it is stated. he enlisted, for,
a second time, and went away with the
fleet After the death of Mrs. Luck. it is
said, her husband became Respondent. He
explained to his friends that he did not
have the heart to work, and several times
declared there was nothing for which he
cared to live.
I'll be better off dead he is reported
to have remarked, land the government
will bury me in Arlington
1t is stated that Luck was in the naval
service several years ago. He had care
fully guarded his discharge papers. and
they were found today by the police in
the house. A brother-in-law of the de-
ceased was notified of the tragedy. but it
will be impossible to reach his stepson in
the navy at this time.
After Detective Vermillion and the police
of the fourth precinct had conc. uded an
investigation the body was removed to the
morgue. The personal effects OF the de-
ceased, including $15 in a pocketbook in
the house. were taken in charge by the
police Arrangements for the funeral
have not yet been made but, it is thought,
the body will be buried at Arlington, as
Luck had suggested