Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-14
Suicide In a Hotel

wife and Chiid.
There had been but little to chronicle
:, the Uav of local history during the
mast week or ten days. 1t was during
this lull in interesting or serious pass
mo events that Alexandria was sudden
~ stirred yesterday evening while a
dark cloud charged with some light
ming was passing over the city by the
news which soon spread that a young
woman had fatally shot herself in the
head at the Hotel Rammel. A crowd
gathered and soon the gong OF the am
bulance from the Alexandria Hospital
added horror to the scene. The dying
woman was placed in the vehicle and
hurried to the hospital where Drs.
Warfeld and Moore had been sum-
moned. The physicians upon exam
lining the young girls wound pro
nounced it mortal The victim OF self
destruction was unconscious, and her
life slowly ebbed away. About eleven
O'Clock last night the vital spark TOOK
its flight. ~
1t is one of the many sad stories
chronicled in this day The first acts
infatuation, thoughtlessness and reck-
lessness performed inlChester, Pa.
The curtain fell upon the last scene
desperation-in Alexandria.
The Washington papers yesterday
contained items announcing that Will
liam Firth, 81 years old, man with a
wife and a child, had eloped from
Chester with a fifteen-year-old girl
named Ethel May Pierce, and the po-
lice OF that city were asked to lookout
for them.
The couple managed to elude the
police and came to Alexandria yester-
DAY morning and registered at the
Hotel Rammel as man and wife. An
attache Of the hotel having read the item
referred to, notified Mr.. William Ram
mel Of the fact that the guests answered
the descriptions OF the Chester couple,
when Mr.. Rammel notified Chief
Goods of the police department. The
latter repaired to the hotel and word
was taken TO Firth that a gentleman
desired to see him. FIRTH sent word
that he would be down in few mo
ments, but after ten minutes had
elapsed, the chief, accompanied by
Mr.. Rammel went to the room occu-
pied by Firth and Miss Pierce
Firth heSitated before he opened the
door, and when he unbolted II he stood
with it only partly opened.
While the chief and Firth were talk
ing pistol shot startled the two men.
Firth made an exclamation Of horror,
and Chief Goods having in the mean
time entered the room he found Miss
Pierce in a sitting posture behind the
door on the floor with the revolver ia
her lap and blood streaming down her
face. The bullet had entered the right
temple, passed out the left and broke a
mirror in bureau in the room.
The girl had removed her outer cloth
ing and had evidently been in the act OF
resuming it, when she realized that she
and her companion had been caught.
While Mr.. Rammel summoned the
ambulance and Drs W. A. Warfeld
and 5. b. Moore, Chief Goods and
Officer Reid, who had been attracted
by the shot, hurried Firth to police
headquarters
At the hospital the girl was placed on
the operating table, but the physicians
at once realized that the case was hope
less. The bullet had entered the right
temple and passed out on the opposite
side of her head, crushing the front
part Of the skull and decorating the
brain. Particles OF bone were driven
half way to the back of the head.
She did not regain consciousness, and,
as stated. died about II O'Clock last
night.
Two notes were found inside the
girls corset One abounded in loving
expressions, but the other, which was
covered with blood, seemed to imply
that the writer's love was waning. They
were signed Teddy"
Firth, after having been placed in
the station house, talked freely OF the
shooting and his relationship with the
girl. He said he was employed as
night ticket agent of the Pennsylvania
Railroad in Chester, Pa. He had
known Miss Pierce since last June,
The girl and her mother both knew
that he was married. In addition, he
said, all three were out Monday night
at a cafe in Chester.
He was a frequent visitor at the
Pierce home recently, and at time:
remained overnight, although the
girls father, he says, was not aware OF
it. About a week ago they planned to
run away, he says, and his intention
was to 90 eventually to Mexico with the
girl, and he might have crossed the
water after being there for short
time, he added.
According to Firth, the girl com
pIeted the arrangements for the trip,
although week ago preliminary plan;
for such a trip were made by both him
and the girl.
The couple left Chester at $40
O'Clock yesterday morning over the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and dis
embarked at Baltimore. From that
city they took the trolley to Washing.
ton. Firth says that he is known in
Washington, and being afraid of being
detected came to Alexandra to escape,
Firth appears little concerned over
the trouble, and apparently does mo-
think il will result seriously for him