The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-30

Tragedies in Washington yesterday cost
four lives. One man committed suicide
by shooting. another, a son of we'll
known merchant, shot himself accident
ally while cleaning a revolver and died
at Emergency Hospital at 1:50 O'clock
this morning, and two girls died as the
result OF inhaling illuminating gas. The
life OF another would-be suicide was
saved by the timely arrival Of his father.
William Lerch. forty-tWo years old.
ended his life by firing bullet into his
brain while alone in a bathroom over his
restaurant at 40 Four-and-a-haIf street
southwest shortly before 10 o'clock in
the morning. Two of his children heard
the shot and called to their mother:
Papa has shot himself"
Mrs. Lerch summoned several employees
and they went 90 the bathroom. where
they found the man dying. a physician
who was summoned pronounced life ex-
tinct A eoroner's jury later returned a
verdict that Lerch met his death by his
own hand.
Lerch had not intimated that he in
tended ending his life, and he left no
notes in explanation of his act His wife
says he had become involved in business
difficulties.
shoots Self Accidentally.
Leo Fishel. twenty-five years old. son
OF Adolph F1shel. a dry goods merchant
at rs Seventh street northwest. shot him
self over the heart while handling a re-
volver in his homo at 96l4 Connecticut
avenue northwest, about / o'clock in the
afternoon. F1shel was alone in the house.
but broke a window pane and called for
help. Charles NJ. Gates, a painter, was
at work on an adjoining house and heard
Fishels cries. The painter summoned a
policeman. who broke open rear door
aud found Bishel lying on the floor.
An ambulance was summoned and
Fishel was removed to the Emergency
Hospital. where he died this morn
ing. Physicians probed for the bull
let, but were unable to locate it
The police say FiShel purchased the re-
voiver a short time before he shot him
self A box OF cartridges was also found
in the room.
Florence Thomas. negro. sixteen years
old, and Edith Copeland. also colored.
twenty-four years old. were asphyxiated
by Illuminating gas while asleep in the
home of Dr. Milo H. Sutliff, 1T2i Wiscon-
sin avenue northwest. where the Cope
land girl was employed as a servant.
InhaIes Illuminating Gas.
Llewellyn Miller, jr., twenty-five years
old, a night clerk in the freight Offices
of the Washington Terminal Company,
attempted TO end his life shortly after Il
o'clock in the morning by inhaling gas in
the bathroom Of his home, at 423 Second
street northeast, His father detected the
odor OF gas and went IN the room dis
covering the young man with his hands
covering his face, while gas flowed from
an open jet
An ambulance was summoned, and Mil
Ter was removed 70 Casualty Hospital
He was placed in a ward, where he will
remain for several days. According 10
the father, the son has been respondent
since Christmas II is said the young
man had borrowed money from 'loan
sharks" and had been worried so much
by his debts that he did not care to live
longer. Before turning on the gas, Mil
Ter wrote the following note:
When you read this ] VIII be gone. / am tired
Of the railroad tired q owing all make 10 The
loan 0f1ces; tired Of continual night work. night
after night. GOodby. l.