The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-21
FRANK H. HOSFO ORD
FUNERAL TOMORROW
Gridiron Club Adopts Reso-
lutions of Sympathy at
Special Meeting.
Correspondent Commits
Suicide Because of Con-
tinued Ill Health.

Funeral services for Frank II. Hos
ford, the well-known newspaper CORE
spondert, who committed suicide yes
terday afternoon. will be held at 2:30
o'clock tomorrow afternoon in Eur
horst's chapel, Third and East Capitol
streets. The services will be conducted
by the chaplain Of the Masonic lodge
OF which AIr. Hosford was a membeI
and delegations from this lodge, the
Gridiron Club. and other organizations
with which he was affiliated viii attend
the funeral Burial Will be made in
Congressional Cemetery.
Fifty members of the GridiTOn Club
attended q meeting this morning in the
New Willard to take action Oh Mr. Hos
ford's death. Resolutions OF sympathy
were drawn Up and Will be sent 10 Mi.
Hosford S family.
4 committee from the club called at
the Hosford home this afternoon 10
make arrangements for attending the
funeral tomorrow afternoon. The pail
bearers have not yet beer selected.
Shuts Himself in Vestibule.
Presumably TO 80 to the Capitol. Hos
ford left his home. al Massachusetts
avenue northeast. yesterday afternoon
between and 3 o'clock He was seen
walking on Eleventh street about $3.50
o'clock, with his Overcoat, coat and vest
thrown wide open and carrying a knife
in his hand. Crossing Z street, he dis
appeared IN the vesu5ule OF 1913 and
closed the outer door behind him.
Hosford accomplished his death only
after repeated and terrible efforts. He
slashed his neck at least eight times,
cutting several small arteries, ana nu-
afta oil
giving evidence OF the mans deLermIna-
ton to die.
Mrs. Mary L. Int. who lives on the
first floor or the building in which Hos
ford committed suicide, heard the sounds
in the VestIbule and thinking that her
children were attempting TO enter the
house ran 10 the door and found the
man PROSTATE, grooming IN agony, and
bleeding profusely from his neck. Other
tenants ausW eTed. Mrs. lrts cries and
a crowd soon gathered.
HOSfOTd was started 10 the Emergency
Hospital, but died before the ambulance
could cover the distance. Examination
Of Hosfords wounds and OF the yesti-
bule in which he had killed himself.
showed that he had used two instru-
ments, one a small vegetable knife and
the other an ink eraser.
Despondent Over III Health.
Hosford is survived by a widow and
three children. His family gave as the
reason for his suicide his being despOnd-
ent over a long period OF i'll health. For
nine months Mr.. HOsford had been fail
ing in health and had about become 81
respondent that he had told his family
that he did not expect TO get well again,
Mr.. Hosford was born i'm Henr.etta
ohio, and was forty-lve years of ase,
His parents moved to Michigan when
he was a small boy, and he remained
in that State Until he came TO Wash
lngJOl. After studying law. he entered
newspaper work. beginning on the staff
OF the Grand Rapids Times, Mich, and
becoming later connected with the Kali
amazoo Daily Commercial, as editor and
part owner.
He went 10 Detroit in 1883. becoming
city editor and editorial writer on the
Detroit Free Press. In 1856 he became
interested in politics, and the following
year was sent 20 the State Legislature
Of Ohio from the First district Wayne
county. After two years in the Legis-
lature Mr.. HOsford came 10 Washing
ton Is correspondent Of the Detroit Free
Press
Tally Clerk of House.
He gave up this position IN 1886 10 take
charge of the bureau of the Denver
News. Still later he was variously con-
nected with the Salt Lake Herald, Iron
County, Standard. and Chicago Dis
patch. During the Fifty-second and
Fifty-third Congresses he was tally
clerk for the House.
Mr.. HOsford was we'll known I'm Ma
sonic circles. He was a member Of New
Jerusalem Lodge, No. 9: Mt. Horeh
Royal Arch Chapter. No. z; Washington
Commandery, No. 1; Almas Temple
Mystic Shrine; and also a fourteenth
degree Scottish Rite Mason.
lie was a member OF Rathbone Su-
perior Lodge. No. %. Knights Of Pythias,
and was past grand commander Of the
District OF Columbia He was also a
member Of Ascalon Temple, No. /
u q. K