The Washington times., 1911-09-11
WASHINGTON CLERK
] ENDS HIS LIFE IN
ABALT|MORE PARK
William E. Tolson Drinks
,Carbolic Acid After Re-
volver Fails.

Lying in the dewy grass of Patter.
son Park, Baltimore, the body of VIII
liam Ernest Tolson, aged twenty-five
years, bookkeeper in the offices of the
American Ice Company, Fifteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue this city, was
found this morning by a passerby. Car
bolic acid had done its work after a
rusty revolver had failed to explode q
cartridge.
Couldn't stand the grind any longer,
Kid" said letter in his pocket. Have
cashed in. Bum pen, this. BILL" This
was addressed to H. NJ. Tongue. West
street, Annapolis, who was one Of his
close friends.
To Miss Lily Tolson, 157 West street,
Annapolis, he wrote the following:
H'Good bye, Lola, and say the same to
the others" This was signed willy"
A third letter to H. Jaeger, auditor
of the Washington offices of the Amer
ican Ice Company. 1t read: Won't be
there. Have shuffied OF this mortal
COIL Tolson."
Body Is Identified.
Tolson's identity was established by
a visiting card which was found in one
OF his pockets-William Ernest Tolson.
Cuff buttons and a tie clasp also bore
the initials "W. z. T" In one Of his
pockets was a fifty-four-ride commuta-
ton ticket on the Baltimore and An
napolis Railway. A sum of $l1.1S was
In a pocketbook.
The specific reason for the act has
not been ascertained. His books at
the American Ice Company offices are
in splendid condition, and there is no
shortage in his accounts.
Last Thursday night he intimated
to one of his friends at the ice COM
Ipany Offices that he did not believe
there was a hereafter, and remarked
that his trials and tribulations were
more than he could bear. But Friday
and Saturday he seemed to be in the
best of spirits and nothing more was
thought of his threat.
When he failed to show up for work
this morning no alarm was felt, for
1t was thought that he had been de-
,layed in coming from his home in An
napolis. Nothing was known of the
suicide there until Times reporter
called to see Mr.. Jaeger, the auditor.
Praised By Superior.
In speaking of Tolson, Mr.. Jaeger
paid him a high compliment, in say
ing that his work was excellent and
that he was one of the best workers
he had ever seen.
Tolson's home was in Annapolis,
and he lived with his father, William
.Tolson. He came to his work in
Washington each morning on the
electric car and returned each even
ing over the same route.
News Of his death was a great shock
to his friends In Washington, and in
his home, Annapolis, although his in
Innate friends In Annapolis noticed yes
terday that he seemed unstrung and in
O highly nervous state of mind.
= He went over to Baltimore Sunday
afternoon, carrying with him revolver
and a bottle of acid which ii is said
he purchased from a Washington drug
store. Before leaving Annapolis yester-
day afternoon he told Harry NJ. Tongue,
jr., one Of his closest friends in AM
napols, that he intended going to Bal
timore to spend the night, but Mr..
Tongue begged him not to go, fearing
that while in a high state Of nervous
ness he might attempt to end his life.
Changed "Good Night" to "Good By.'
He spent several hours in the early
evening with a young woman friend in
Annapolis, and then went on to Balti-
more. Before leaving he told his friend,
GOOD night" and then changed IT to
''Good-by," the last exclamation causing
the young woman to think strange of
him, and she asked him where he was
going. He smiled, however, and hurried
to the depot and caught a train for
Baltimore. That was the last seen of
him in Annapolis.
The body will be shipped to Annapolis
late today, and the funeral will be held
sometime tomorrow afternoon.