Evening star., 1909-05-27
BULLET IN HIS HEAD
Elmer wilkinson at HOSPITAL.
Expected to Die.
FOURTH TO TIRE OF LIFE
Young Huckster Shoots Himself
Early This Morning.
POSTAL CARD FROM A GIRL
Missive May Have Had Something
to Do With Rash Act-Victim
of Nervous Trouble.

A message received on a postal from q
young lady. it is thought may have
caused Elmer Wilkinson. huckster, nine
ing into the suicide wave which swep,
over the city yesterday afternoon. Elmer
shot himself in the head while In q shet
in the rear OF the home of his parents
Thomas and Mrs. Wilkinson. 1928 stree
southeast. this morning shortly before Il
O'Clock. He was in an apparently dyint
condition when DR.. Mofiitt reached hin
with the ambulance from the Casualt,
Hospital and conveyed him to that insti
tuition, where his death L. momentaril,
expected.
But Elmer had no love affair."" de-
clared his aunt. Mrs. Higgs. who did the
talking at the wilkinson home today al
the representative Of the family. "And,
she added. 1.-The girl who sent him the
postal had only met Him once. She me'
| him at my house and was anxious to SCI
him again, and she sent him q messagt
on. a postal. l believe he said he would
| be unable to meet her tonight and asked
her to leave a rose for him.
You can just state" concluded thu
aunt, that Elmer had q nervous afiiictior
and was drinking, and when boy doe.
that you know what Is likely to happen
Elmer Is employed on his father.
wagon. but. his relatives say. he did no
work regularly. He remained away from
his work when he desired. and had {
good. comfortable home. This mornin4
he did not accompany his father. but Re
home a short while and returned a few
minutes before IL o'clock, saying nothing
to his invalid mother as he passed through
to the shed.
Found by Woman.
The report of a pistol shot attracted
the attention of Mrs. Jennie Downs, 9Ol
there and saw the wounded man with 9
revolver clenched in his hand, she beat
a hasty retreat to the house. saying.
ELMER has shot himself: Elmer is dead
The invalid mother collapsed and had to
be cared for by relatives and neiEhbors
Neighbors heard of what had happened
and number of them hurried to the
house to offer assistance. None Of them
was willing to offer any suggestion as to
the cause of the tragedy other than what
was said by the aunt. After the wounded
man reached the hospital the police OF
the fifth precinct made an investigation oi
the affair and reported to headquarters
Message on Postal Card.
The post card which was found In the
young mans pocket contained the fol-
lowing message:
Very sorry I did not see you Thurs
day night to give you the rose prom
ised. 1 hope to see you soon again, and
the next time come down l want you to
come over or you will have to leave
Washington, d. C. Hoping to get an
answer soon, l remain very truly yours,
FRANCES STERN
The nostal was of the souvenir yariet,
and contained picture of young WON
an standing before a mirror. 1t also con
tained the printing, "If to the glass this
be told
The message thus shown was. Twist
you we're with me-"
When seen at 7th street department
store, where she is employed, Miss Sterr
said:
IL have only met Mr.. Wilkinson once
am. very sorry to hear of the shooting
The postal card was only written by mt
as a joke"