Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-16
Edward A. Sweeney browns
AimseIf in Foot Of Water
DISCOVERED BY B0ATNAN
pesoondeney on Account Of Long SUI
ferinq From lncurable Disease
Causes Aged Mechanics Helper to
Commit suicide-inquest Held.

Oespondent because of long suner'
ing with an ineurable disease, Edward
A. Sweeney, so years old, who Tor
merly was employed as a mechanic
helper at the shipyard, committed
suicide early yesterday morning by
drowning himself in James river a
few wards from the shore line at the
foot of Thirty-sixth street Before
laying down in the icy water. when
probably was not more than 1901
deep. Sweeney tied handkerchief
around his neck and pulled it tight
enough TO cut off his wind.
When found by river man ABOUT
$40 o'clock yesterday morning and
pulled ashore by Patroiman Shelton.
the body of the dead man was stu
warm. and DR.. B. r. Gary. the coroner,
says that Sweeney could not nave
been dead very long before his body
was found. The body lay in the water
face downward. and that undoubtedly
was the position in which Sweeney
laid down.
sand Scratched Face.
Upon arriving at the scene in re-
Spouse to message from the police,
Dr.. Cary impanelled a coroner's jury
to investigate the case. Composing
the fury were: H. S. Reynolds. Frank
Berkeley, c. NJ. Trice, F. S. Ballard.
W. J.. Mitchell and e. W. House. save
a few scratches on the face made by
the molten of the flesh against the
sand at the bottom of the river there
were no marks on the body. the
tightly tiedS handkerchief was found
around the mans neck. II had been
around the neck.
Sweeney was clad in three suits of
underwear and two COATS. In q coat
of his pocket was found the natural
ization papers which Judge Barham
granted to the man in the Corporation
Court on. February s, 1909 On the
back of this paper Sweeney had scrib-
bled brief note with a lead pencil
stating his intent 10 commit suicide.
The writing was identified as that Of
the dead man by Detective Sergeant
John W. Reynolds.
Waded Out in Water.
While the coroners jury did not say
so in It's verdict, there is no doubt but
that Sweeney committee suicide. The
belief entertained by the police is that
Sweeney walked out into the river and
deliberately laid down in the water,
holding his head under the surface. He
evidently tied the handkerchief around
his neck a few seconds before he laid
down.
Sweeney was native Of Ireland,
but had been in this country for
twenty-five years, The last FIVE Of
which he spent here. He was without
friends or relatives in the United
States. but up TO week ago he
boarded with NJ. A. Hickey, 231 Thir-
ty-fifth street Mr.. Hickey said last
night that upon the advice of his
physician, DR.. Gary, he gave Sweeney
notice e week ago to leave his house,
and the man did so. He was forced
to 10 this because the man was a
menace to the health of his family.
Threatened to Kin Himself.
The aged man had been respondent
a long time and recently had been
drinking heavily. Mr.. Hickey says
that on December 4. Sweeney twice
threatened TO kill himself, and that
he, Hickey. had prevented him from
carrying OH. his avowed purpose.
Sweeney was last seen alive by DIR.
Gary Wednesday evening.
After the inquest the body was
turned over to Undertaken j. Hugh
caEee and the funeral will be held
at -affee's undertaking establishment
this afternoon. Mr.. Hickey will de-
fray tie costs of the funeral.