The Washington herald., 1909-03-31

Stretched on the floor in an attic at his
home. Mount View. Anacostla. yesterday.
Henry A Grlswold. prominent citizen and
philanthrOpist. was found by his wile-a
suicide.
Using a double-barreled shotgun, the
trigger Of which ne pulled by means OF a
stove poker Mr.. Griswold shot himself
above the heart shortly after 4 o'clock
ia the afternoon.
On account Of the peculiar ci-cum-
stances surrounding the tragedy. the po-
lice at first suspected murder. An investi-
cation by detectives. and the inquest held
by the coroner az s o'clock. dispelled all
thought Of foul play
So quietly had The deed been planned
that residents living IN the neighborhood
did not learn Of the suicide until last
evening. Mr.. Grlswold had been despond-
ent for the last few days. and had men
toned that he might shoot himself
Had Nervous Collapse.
Friends 10 whom be confded his nerv-
Gus collapse were not alarmed when they
saw him working I'm his grounds yester-
day. He sent his wife 10 the clly about
O'ClOck 10 transact some financial business
and she was away al the time he killed
himself The last person 10 see him alive
was Frank g. Lindsay. Of III Mount View
place. who went 90 the Grswold home
about . o'clock 20 borrow garden tools
AIR. Lindsay passed Mrs Griswold as she
was leaving the west gate. and inquired
where De could find her husband. he was
told Mr. Griswold was In the kitcaen.
Entering the kitchen. Lindsay found ar
Griswold sitting at table He heartily
agreed 10 lend his tools and even a~-
companied him 70 the barn. where The ar-
ticles were procured After conyrrsinr.
for a time Mr.. Lindsay. accompanied bv|
his little girl. left the place. and Mr..
Griswold remained 20 tend 10 his chick
ems
Earlier in the day Mr. Griswold told
Nelson Green. an old Segro who had
worked on the place for years, that he
was despon6ent.
Ny nerves are just gone he added.
lie carried basket Of eggs 10 friends
in Washington before noon. As he passed
aoquaintances on his way home. his
hands were folded behind his back Hei
did not recognize those who greeted him.
Talked About Suicide.
John Bell. carriage painter. who was
his closest friend. said last night that
Mr.. Griswold asked him several days
ago what he thought about shooting
himself"
Bell replied that although he was as
old as Mr.. Griswold he preferred 10 re-
main in this world as long as he could.
Il guess you are right" Griswold IS
reported TO have replied.
No letter or explanation was left bv
the suicide. II is supposed he suddenly
made up his mind TO end his life. His
wife returned home about 4.2l o'clock
and looked about the house 10 tell Mr.
Griswold Of her transactions. Failing 10
locate him on the first floor, she removed
her hat and coat and went on the porch.
expecting 10 sec him az work IN his gar
den. A visit % the second floor was
made, IT being supposed he was asleep
When she failed 20 find him. and hearing
TO reply 10 her call, she ascended the
narrow stairs TO the attic. and on open-
ing the door found him lying dead.
Mrs. Griswold called for help and. half
fainting. ran downstairs. Neighbors. hear
ing her cries. ran up the hiu 10 the bouse.
and applied first aid remedies to restore
the fainting woman. DR.. MundeT who
Continued on PAGE .. CoIuun .