Evening star., 1909-06-26
Suicide of E. 7. Getchell, Pen
sion Office Clerk.
BODY FOUND IN THE RIVER
Left Writing Showing That He Was
Desperate.
STONE TIED ABOUT HIS NECK
Had Been Missing for Two Days
But No Anxiety Was Felt at
His Rooming Place.

rs not the loss of position, old age and
poverty enough to make man despef-
ate?" wrote Everett T. Getcheli, four
teen-hundred dollar clerk in the pension
Office, aged seventy-hve years, two years
ago.
This morning his body WAS found in a
bathing crib anchored near Buffers boat
house at the south end of the Highway
bridge, large stone having been fastened
about his neck.
Getchell apparently was laboring under
a delusion regarding loss of position and
poverty. He believed that his name was
soon to be taken from the pay roll OF the
pension Office. but officials said they knew
of no such action being contemplated. 1t
is said that ne had considerable money In
the Second National Bank. Coroner
Neyitt viewed the remains this after
noon and gave a certificate showing the
case was one of suicide.
william Martin. living near the south
end OF the Highway bridge. found a
coat and hat near the bathing crib this
morning and a search resulted in finding
aetchelrs body. Three letters were found
In the pocket of his coat addressed to DR..
]. B. Gregg Custis, who had treated
Getchell for a broken arm; Carl II. Beat
". Central Union Mission, who had
nursed him, and John r. Garrett, 945 q
street, who was mentioned as executor
Mr.. Martin notified the ha rbor police
and the statement that the mans hanos
were tied caused the police to beleve
r murder mystery confronted them IL
was soon found that the stone was tied
about the neck of the dead man. and the
body was taken to the morgue without
awaiting the arrival of the coroner
Notes Left by Getchell.
In his letter to Mr.. Garrett Getchell said
he was sorry to trouble him. but condi-
tfons were such that he had been driven
TO eternity He told of the trouble he had
experienced with his broken arm and ex
pressed the belief that he would never
recover. He also wrote that Carl II.
Beatty had befriended him and he de-
sired that he be remembered when his
estate Is settled.
Beatty nursed George Bancroft"
wrote the respondent man, land was
given an annuity of $}65."
The note to Beatty reads:
81 am tired of life. Am worn and
weary and old and poor. Thank you for
your very attentive kindness. ! hope
they will let you look after the rooms
until further action is taken. Don't be-
lieye my arm will ever get we'll You
are truly one of Gods anointed. Wish
/ had been such a man. My executor OF
my poor little will is John p. Garrett, 945
Q street northwest, and he will probably
do little for you IL he can out of the
poor little proceeds"
Told Where to Find Body.
Getchell suggested in his letters that his
body might be found in the river near
the Aqueduct bridge. near Riley's wharf,
or in his room. Before he tied the stone
shout his neck and jumped into the shall
low water he wrote In pencil the location
where his body was to be found, and
also wrote q request that the letters be
mailed to the persons to whom he had
addressed them.
Friends of the unfortunate man at 619
L street northwest. where Getchell occu-
pied room, made inquiries about him
this morning, having become alarmed
over his absence during the past two
days.
There is no need of worrying about
him." they were told. "He was away
from home once before and returned
Getchell, who was native of Maine,
was born December Il, 1888, and was ap-
pointed 10 clerkship in the pension Of
fce from Walton. KY. April ii. $780,
Getchell having lived in this city two
years prior to the time he received his
appointment In Kentucky Getchell was
a colonel in Eoley's state guards.