Evening star., 1914-06-08

William X. Ellis. fifty three years old.
who has been in the real estate and in
surance business at 141O G street north
west for a number Of years. was found
lying on the floor of his garage in rear
of his home. 1920 Rhode Island avenue
northwest, yesterday morning with a
bullet wound in the back of his head. On
the floor near the wounded man was his
revolver.
How did it happen?" asked the wound
ed man. when a physician reached him.
declaring he had no recollection of the
shooting.
Dr. William P Carr. his attending
surgeon said this morning that the
patient probably would recover, although
the bullet is in his brain.
Il do not know anything of the cir
cumstances of the shooting" stated the
surgeon. .'but it is possible that Mr.. Ellis
dropped the pistol and that it was acci-
dentally discharged
Mr. Ellis has been i'll during the last
six weeks. His illness was brought on,
it is thought. by too close attention to
his business and he was taken to At
lantic City. 1t was found that his nerv-
BUSINESS was not benefited at the sea-
shore and he returned home
Had Planned to Go Away,
Arrangements had been made for Mr.
and Mrs. Ellis to spend a week or two
at Maj. Sylvesters bungalow at Harpers
Ferry. IN order that the sick man might
be where 1t was quiet and he would
have gone there today.
1t is stated that the sick man was
suffering from nervous prostratio Yes
terday he told his wife that he was
~ fhA orsra6ra
ing Of his automobile, and when Mrs
Ellis went there fifteen minutes later
she made q remark about the washing
not having been done.
Hearing her husband make some casual
remark about the washing, Mrs. Ellis
returned to tho house with a few flowers
che had taken from the garden, and
shortly after she reached the house she
heard a noise that she thought had been
made by the bursting Of an automobile
tire. but had no idea the sound had come
from the garage on her premises.
A domestic in the employ of the, Ellis
family, on her way to the rear alley,
found the wounded man on the floor of
the garage and heard him call his wifes
name. Mrs. Ellis was summoned to the
garage by the domestic. Mrs. Stone, wife
Of DIR. I. 8. Stone, a neighbor. responded
to Mrs. Ellis call for help, and the
physician followed.
Hurried to Emergency Hospital.
Mr.. Ellis family physician was sum-
moned, and he and DR.. Stane, realiz-
ing the seriousness of the wound had
the wounded man hurried to Emer-
sency Hospital. Numerous friends of
the family visited the Ellis home and
the hospital and rendered their services
Detective Pratt and the police of the
third precinct made an investigation
of the affair. but were unable to obtain
any definite information as to circum-
stances unGer which the shot was fired.
The police are satisfied that Mr.. Ellis
shot himself. they say. and no intima-
tion has been given that the shot was
fred by any other person. but they are
unable to determine If 1t was the re-
suit Of an accident or was done pur-
posely.
When the wounded man reached the
hospital he was taken to the X-ray
room and physicians located the bull
let by means of the instrument 1t
was said at the hospital today that
the patient was not fully conscious
but this condition. it was explained,
probably was the result of the use of