The Washington times., 1912-08-20
SUICIDE FEARED
TROUBLE OVER "AD'
IS POLICE THEORY
Neighbors Had Complained
of Girls Answering Notice
in Want Columns.

In spite of the fact that Henry S.
Rogers, eighteen years old, left note
In which he said he was going to kill
himself because he had been Tilted by
girl the police believe today that the
real motive which prompted the suicide
was the fact that the youth feared
trouble as the result of an ADVERTISE
ment he had caused to be printed.
An advertisement asked for girls
about fourteen years Of age to apply
for a situation at the address where
he was living. and, according to the
neighbors, many girls were seen to go
to the house in answer to the adver-
tisement.
Rogers, who was employed as office
boy by a firm of patent attorneys, ended
inhaling illuminating gas in hall room
on The third floor OF a boarding house
at 1914 Thirteenth street northwest.
The youth was a son of Charles Rogers,
a former examiner in the Patent Office,
who, 1t is said, shot his second wife
and then killed himself in Los Angeles
about twelve yearsaago. Rogers mother
married a second time and now lives
at Catlett, Va.
Tilted, His Excuse.
The note which was left by Rogers
was turned over to his aunt, Miss Katie
Rogers, who lives in this city. The text
of the note was not made public, but In
1t Rogers said he had been Tilted by a
girl living in the northeast section Of
the city and had nothing more to live
. for. ....
Reference was also made in the note
to the tragic death OF the boys father
&ble for what he was going to do, as he
had inherited his fathers nervous dis
position.
The police learned today that on Sun
tnId a i
M. Hill, of 1857 T street northwest, that
he felt like killing some one and ending
his own life. You don't want to do
that" young Hill told him, and nothing
more was said on the subject.
Advertised for Girls.
Mrs Everett HarveH, who conducts
the boarding house where Rogers lived
Is out of the city. Taking advantage
of her absence, 1t is charged Rogers in
serted the following advertisement n
"Wanted-Giri about fourteen years
as lady's companion; good salary. Cal
atter D. m, 1914 Thirteenth street
So many girls answered the adver.
usement that neighbors told Sarah
Davis, the colored caretaker. The Davis
woman saw the advertisement, and the
following day asked Rogers If he ha
ste6 ptnw III and he is is said ;hs to have sd
told him he would get in trouble over
1t, and no asked If she thought the
newspaper would discontinue 1t IL he
paid them cents.
The Davis woman was only at the
house in the morning, and the girls
who came while she was there were
turned away, the woman telling them
there had been mistake.
!. - o.. Found Dead On Bed.
Yesterday Rogers came home about
ii O'Clock and complained of feeling i'll.
He asked the maid II his room had been
arranged. He waited down stairs while
she fixed it up. Early in the afternoon
the Hill boy went to the house, but was
unable to get any response. He re-
turned about 5 o'clock.
James Cook, a clerk in the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor who
lives at the house, arrived at the same
time. Opening the front door he detect
ed the odor of escaping gas, which was
traced to Rogers room.
The door was broken open and the
youth was found lying on the bed, fully
dressed, with a rubber tube connected
with an open gas jet between his lips
Rogers bady was turned over to ar
undertaken. but arrangements for the
funeral are being withheld pending the
arrival Of the young mans mother.