Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-08-05
SUICIDE HIDES
HIS IDENTITY
Phillip Becker Cut Makers
Name From Clothing Be-
fore Shooting Self
MASONIC FRATERNITY
MAY BURY DEAD MAN

The body Of the man who shot and
killed himself in hotel at Delawara
City, on Wednesday night, is now at
the morgue Who the man is or
where he came from is a mystery He
registered at the Central Hotel, In,
Delaware City under the name OF
Philip Becker and told some one else
that his name was Smith. He spoke
OF the West at times, giving the i'm
preston that he came from that part
OF the country.
The note he left contained certain
marks which made It evident that was
bersa Mason. The note was addressed
TO that fraternity aud after stating
that the writer had committed no
crime requested the order to bury
him Deputy Coroner Chandler has
notified the officers of the Grand Lodge
of Masons. In the dead mans
pockets was found SIG i'm paper money.
The bullet which ended his life en-
/ tered the right temple and is lodged.
somewhere in the brain. The man
was well built and bad a large and
we'll proportioned head. The hair Ia
gray and was closely cut Not q pat
per or mark of any kind could be
found on his clothing which might
serve TO identify him. He evidently
destroyed everything OF this nature
/ with the avowed purpose to prevent
/ his identity becoming known.
Had Talked With Him.
/ Harry j. Guthrie. secretary OF the
Board of Education. yesterday after
noon identified the body as that Of a
man with whom he had conversation
on Tuesday morning at Delaware City.
Mr. Guthrie was on his way to Chee-
apeake City on business trip. and
while waiting for the boat at Dela-
ware City he was approached by the
man. who had been sitting nearby.
The man noticed Mr.. Guthrie's Ma
sonic emblems, and made It. clear that
he, too. was a Mason and Shriner
7 However, he did not tell whore he wa
b from. or give his name. He and M
/, Guthrie talked for awhile about III
> Notifications at F6vt DUPONT and Fo
y Delaware In which>he seemed mus
. interest He also make some o0se
y vations about the working OF prol
u bition laws I'm Delaware tcffitQry IN
has voted dry and added thFr-
~ would not make any difference 20 hi
Z" as he seldom drank. He told Mr. Gut
u, rle he was seeking a rest. and h
~ made his way TO Delaware City. viii
10 ii' NHnfA F'N Nho a. hAANf Nhi't PIG
for q rest"
Mr.. Guthrie got the impressil
from the mans conversation that
was from New York City. as he seen
ed 10 be familiar with conditions an
places theme. He Was entirely ration
- al. Mr. Guthrie said. dignifed an
used choice language. Mr. Guthrl
regretted after he had boarded tn
boat that he had not inquired OF IN
man where his home was or theelodg
i, TO which he belonged. When Mr.
U Guthrie learned yesterday of the sui
eide at Delaware City the thought oc
CURED to him that the dead man nigh
be the one with whom he conversed
and Il required but one glance to YER
ify this suspicion.
The suicide had even taken the
precaution Of cutting out the label
from his clothing. so that his name
or the maker could not be learned
i. Undertaken Chandler will use the
money the man had 10 give him a
decent burial. and II moremoney is
. needed it is likely that it Will be fur
( nished by the Masons.