Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-11
ENDS LIFE BY PISTOL SHOT
GRADUATE OF MILITARY ACAD-
ENVY COMMITS SUICIDE.
Charles Exton Banford. Formerly a
Lieutenant United States Army.
Found Dead in Hotel.

lieutenant Of the United States Army.
committed suicide late last Saturday
night or early Yesterday morning To-,
shooting himself through the head. The
deed was committed in "a room in the
Regent Hotel. PENNSYLVANIA avenue and
10Th street. The body found shortly
before noon yesterday by Il chambernlaid
VIII" went 10 the room 10 do the usual
cleaning. There was NO writing TO throw
any light on the tragedy. nor was any
thing found To Indicate that Bamford.
who was only twenty-s!X years of age.
had given much thought TO the question
of ending his life. The police. coroner
and friends Of the deceased think be-
cause of the presence OF return railroad
ticket TO his home. Trenton, n J.. that
when Bamford came here he intended 10
return, and that he conceived the idea
of killing himself after lie reached this
city. His visit here was to ask reinstate-
ment In the army, and he filed AN appli-
cation At the War Depart ment. II is gen
orally believed. however. that he was told
he would probably be denied. So be-
coming respondent. he ended his life.
Two brothers of Eamford came here
from Trenton to investigate the affair
and arrange for the removal Of the body
. to the home of their parents, Col. and
Mrs. G. y. Bamford. 369 Hamilton avenue.
Trenton. The funeral will take place
from there tomorrow or Wednesday, Cor
oner hewitt gave the necessary certifi-
cate of death. showing that Bamford shot
himself with suicidal intent. and the body
was removed To the morgue
Lieut.. j. Goethe of the 13th L. 8. Cav
airy. stationed at Fort Myer, saw the
body at the morgue yesterday afternoon
and completed the identification. Bam-
ford had served with him and they had
been close personal friends.
Text of Application.
Shortly after reaching this city last
week Bamford visited the War Depart
ment and filed the application. addressed
to "adjutant general, United States Army.
Washington. d. c. which reads: II have
the honor to apply for reappoiptment as
second lieutenant in the United States
Army. and assignment to the field artil-
lery.
II entered West Point in 1890 and
graduated in 1905, and was assigned to
the 18th Cavalry, with which L served
| until September L. 1906.
'T have since been engaged in civil
engineering.
Since resigning I have come TO real
ization Of the fact that 1 am best suited
/ to army life, and l earnestly desire to re-
enter the service
| During the time Bamford was in the
service he served with Troop l.. 18th
Cavalry resigning his commission Sep
TENDER l. 1906. He was stationed at Fort
| Sill. Okla. at the time his resignation
was accepted. and from there he went
to San Francisco. Next he proceeded
/ to Mexico and Texas, and was employed
In civil engineering He met with sue
cess in his work. but was Unable to stand
the climate and returned north.
Messages of Coincidence.
Nothing in the record OF the young
| lieutenant indicates that his service in
the army was anything but the best.
He made many friends while in the serv-
ice. and a number Of them have sent
messages of coincidence to his parents.
Coroner hewitt was told that several
persons in the Regent Hotel heard what
( might have been the report of pistol
shot about . o'clock yesterday morning.
but the coroner thinks that death oc-
CURED late Saturday night. The cham
bermaid was Mortified when she entered
the room yesterday morning. She hur-
ried to inform the clerk. Before retiring
Bamford carefully arranged his clothing
On the chairs and drew the cover partly
over himself in bed. He then discharged
the weapon, the bullet entering his fore
! head The weapon was clutched In his
hand when the body was found.
One entry In diary kept by the de-
ceased embraced request that his rela-
tives he notified in event of accident.
William Bamford who reached here last
| night from Trenton. said his brother had
resigned from the service on account
OF ill health. his service at Fort Sill hay-
ing impaired his health. and had Travelled
extensively for the purpose of improving
his condition, but had not fully sue
ceeded.
The body was removed from the nnorgue
by a local undertaken this morning. Ar
engagements were made to have It sent
to Trenton late this afternoon.
Charles Exton Bamford was born in
Trenton n j.. June ~, 1sS2. His father
is a retired member OF the National
Guard OF the state of New Jersey. having
served as colonel. His grandfather, the
late Adam EXtun. was Il prominent mer-
chant in Trenton.