The Washington herald., 1907-11-13

At late hour lastsnight the police had
been unable TO get into telegraphic COM
munication with the relatives Of George
W. Ewell, OF Deer Lodge. Morgan County.
Tenn. who committed suicide yesterday
afternoon by shooting himself while rid
ing in a Pennsylvania Railroad cab in
Pennsylvania avenue. between Tenth and
Eleventh streets.
Immediately following the news OF the
mans death. Capt. Boardman sent a
telegram. 10 be delivered either TO the
town marshal or postmaster al Deer
Lodge, asking that Ewelrs family be in
formed of the tragedy and requesting in
formation concerning the disposition OF
the remains. About o'clock last night
telegraphlc communication was received
from Sunnybright, the nearest Office 20
Deer Lodge. stating that the telephone
wires leading 10 Deer Lodge were down
as the result of the STOW and hail storms
which have recently occurred in that sec
ton OF the country The body is held AZ
the District morgue.
Motive Not Ascertained.
The local police late last night had not
ascertained Ewell's motive for his act
The fact that a receipt for $3.50. dated No
vember Z, bearing the name Of the Johns
Hopkins Hospital. OF Baltimore. however.
leads them 10 believe the man had been
patient at that institution. and WAS prob
ably despondent because Of III health
EweA appeared TO be nervous when he
entered the cab at the railroad station
and asked TO be driven 70 the nearest
pawnshop. After visiting Fulton's estab-
lishment, in Ninth street. he appeared TO
be dissatisfied, and asked 10 be driven
10 another place. He was driven TO J.
Shappirio's store. at 80 D street. where he
purchased q revolver and d round Of
cartridges.
At this store he gave the name OF John
Jones and his address as Madison. Tenn.
After purchasing the weapon, he hurried
away. Giving the cabman orders 10 drive
up Pennsylvania avenue. he began plac
ing the cartridges IN the chambers Of
the revolver. Thomas Mattingly, the
driver Of the cab. feared that the man
intended 10 do himself harm, and under
pretense that he wanted 10 get another
cab because OF sudden lamencss OF his
horse. drove rapidly in the direction Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad station In the
| hope OF finding a policeman
he had driven only a short distance
when ne heard the report OF revolver
shot, and. jumping from his box found
Ewell huddled IN one corner OF the cab
with blood flowing from a wound in his
head near the right ear. An ambulance
| bearing a surgeon was summoned, but
when il was found the man was dead
/ the cab door was closed and the vehicle
I
/ coroner. The remains were then turned
over TO the morgUe officials.
Letter in His Pocket.
| II is evident the man contemplated tax
/ ing his life from the fact that he had
/ in his pocket note requesting that
| whoever found his body should notify
| his wife in Tennessee. In his pockets
/ also were found a watch. several papers
/ and railroads tickets. and a few dollars
| in change. The letter read as follows
October %. 1907, Sunday p. m.
In case Of my death at any time
there is an industrial insurance policy in
my suit case for SlSS in Metropolitan
which will bury me cheaply-here at this
place Please have doctors certificate Of
death mailed TO Mrs. George w. Ewen,
my wife, at Deer Lodge. Tenn. Morgan
| County,, as soon as possible Ard thank
] ing you kindly for prompt attention 10
| last request. Send my love to Mrs. Ewell
and our daughter. Mary Francis Ewell
! (seven years old. These two are more
than life itself 20 me. Sincerely.
1 GEORGE W. EWELL."
| At the bottom OF the note were the
words "Send everything TO baby" and
an apparent postscript stating that some
one had deserted him several days ago.
/ The name, however, was illegible.