Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-13
SUICIDE IS POPULAR
More Than One Every Week
Kills Himself.
MORE DEATHS BY VIOLENCE
Coroner Submits Annual Report to
Commissioners.
SHOOTING ROUTE MUCH CHOSEN
Asphyxiation and Poisoning Not Far
Behind-Accidents Due TO
Many Causes.
Suicides. and Chosen Routes.

There is a gradual increase i'm the num-
| ber of violent deaths and suicides in the
District each year. according to the an
nual report of Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt
submitted to the Commissioners today
showing the operations of his Office dur
ing the year ended June 30 last.
| His report shows that there were 25s
violent Deaths 21 deaths due to accidental
[, poisonings and 66 suicides during that
period. During the preceding year there
were 237 violent deaths, 81 suicides and
13 deaths from accidental poisoning The
coroner also investigated J25 deaths from
natural causes, an increase of over the
preceding year.
DR.. hewitt emphasized the number OF
suicides. He points out that there was
more than on an average OF one each
week last year.
Shooting Most Popular.
AS usual. the most popular form of SELF
| destruction last year was by shooting.
There were 20 who ended their lives in
that manner. The second favorite method.
| according to the records. was by inhaiing
Illuminating gas. By this means 16 per-
sons committed suicide.
| DR.. hewitt notes a coincidence In con-
nection with the suicides last year by
means of gupehots and gas poisoping.
| The number of deaths by the former
means were the same as during the pre-,
gas were just the same.
There were eight suicides by drowning.
two by jumping. two by banging, two by
cutting throat. two from opium poisoning.
clever from carbolis acid poisoning one
| from alco -olfc poisoning, one from aqua
ammonia and one from unknown cause.
| The report shows that of the twenty
one accidental poisonings, three were by
carblc acid. fifteen by gas. one by
potmaine one mercury bichloride and one
| by strychnine.
| In connection with the violent deaths.
of which there were 255, il is noted that
there is not one death caused by reckless
automobile driving. In speaking OF this.
| Coroner Neevitt said:
This condition is pleasing to note Il
is circumstance. considering the large
number OF machines operated here that
is a tribute to the carefulness OF chauf-
| feurs, and conclusive evidence of the rigid
enforcement of the police regulations gov
| erning the same.
Deaths by Violence.
| The greatest number of violent deaths
| were caused by what is scheduled as '.ac-
cidental injuries. falls. blows, ets,' which
| causes resulted in 12 deaths. There were
| i5 deaths by accidental drowning, q
| deaths from electric cars. 10 deaths from
steam railroads, % from burns about the
| body and head, from being run over by
| wagons and ) from accidental gunshots.
| The other accidental deaths were caused
by the various usual accidental methods.
such as smothering. strangulation. scalds
| and tetanus.
| In speaking Of the increase In violent
deaths In the District, DIR. hewitt said:
THE number of violent deaths shows a
| steady increase from year to year. Many
| Of these cases demand an investigation
| before a coroner's jury. These inquests
| are in marked contrast to those of seven
| or eight years ago Circumstances today
| require much more systematic and search
| ing investigation. which L believe have
been conducted satisfactorily to those di-
rectly concerned, as we'll as to the gen.
eral government.
1T has been my purpose TO divest this
| office of its useless customs, and believe
| that it's methods have been improved ac-
cordingly. The celebrity and thoroughness
with which criminal cases can be investi-
gated by coroner's jury, and the great i'm
| portance of early testimony, 1 think, are
| fully appreciated.
There have been several cases of death
by anesthesia during the past year The
medical profession recognizes the serious
responsibility attending the administra-
tion of anesthetics, and i advise an urge
| that only licensed physicians be permit
ted to act In this capacity. The elimina-
| ton of grade crossings I'm the District has
| prevented the loss of many lives and
serious accidents of various kinds"
Higher Wage for Morgue Master.
Accompanying his annual report. DIR.
hewitt forwarded the annual estimates oS
money wanted by him to run his depart
ment during the fiscal year commencing
July ]. 1909. Dr. hewitt asks for no in
crease in his own salary, which is 81 sou
a year, but urgently requests the Commits
| sioners to increase the salaries of the
morgue master and assistant morgue
master from $40 and $3.50 a year. re-
spectively. to $40 and $720.
He explained that these men are on
duty practically twentyfour hours a
day and are granted no annual leave and
| that the very nature of their duties makes
| their work unattractive to sober and COM
| petent men.
| He also wants the Commissioners to
provide him stenographer al $1,000 a
| year. He explained in asking for this ad-
ditional help that a stenographer would
insure uniform and authentic record
of all proceedings before coroners jury.
He concluded by asking for $3.50 with
which to hire a man no serve jointly as
| hostler and laborer. and an appropriation
of $3, 800 for running expenses. such al
| livery of horse fees for witnesses, pay
| for jurors, making autopsies. etc The
| apDropria ton for these purposes for the