The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-14
THOS SMADDEN SENDS BULLET INTO BRAIN
Body Discovered Yesterday Afternoon at Boarding
 HOuse-Leaves Note

"I want to investigate hell or heaven" This was the message Thomas Madden, former superinten- dent of construction for the Phoenix Bridge company of Trenton, N J., left to the public before sending a bullet through his brain in his room at the Marion apartments, 517 Nineteenth street, north, sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning. No reason for the deed is known.
 Mrs. R. Jaffee, who operates the Ma iron apartments. discovered the body of Madden yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock. T cannot see why the man killed himself,' said Mrs. Jaffee He never seemed to be in morbid state of mind, and I am sure he had a very responsible position. He was highly educated, and was liked by everyone with whom he came in contact. Tues day morning about 12 clock the maid came to me and said the door to the de- ceased's room was locked. I thought nothing of it, as I knew MT. Madden was here to attend trial, and that the case had not come up yet I believe it was in regard to an accident which occurred sometime ago while ne was building a bridge at Pratt City. About 3 o'clock the maid again came to me and said the rom was still locked. waited awhile and about 3:30 1 pro- ceeded to open the door with my pass key. I shall never forget the sight I was confronted with. The man was in the bed and his face was cov- cred with blood I screamed and some enc notified the authorities"
 The deceased left rambling note addressed to Coroner Spain. The first part was written very legibly but it seemed that the man became more nervous as he progressed. The note was dated April 12, 1915. It follows
 'I am writing this in order that you will not have to spend time and money on the investigation. l understand that the county does not give you sufficient funds to properly investigate into" At this point the writing is not 1egible. The note continues. Let CT go' There is space then. T have GOT will have) committed suicide when you find this. I will kill myself by shooting a bullet through what brains I have--not many--nor big-I reckon However they served me well; they did the best they could. and the best is not the worst Now. MT. Spain, as a heart-to- heart talk. just treat me as you would any suicide or a brother; l have been good fellow. I know as much you do about the future. What is there ia the future? Has anybody come back to tell? Not yet but soon Look and listen. I am misunderstood, they are not all dead Now, five minutes be- lore leave this life-I put it that way not knowing exactly what to say--I in real dead earnest I am in dread. Give my body to anyone who wants it, and tell the kids to live to their hearts content. I don't care, because l know when l am dead I am dead long time" Then follows a scrawl over the middle of the page, just as a child might attempt to write, then post script: Understand that l am per fectly sane and know what 1 am doing. If am not dead, please kill me want to die" On a separate piece of paper written in an extremely nervous hand lie says; What I want to Investigate ! want to investigate heaven or hell and what 1 want to see is what is in he'll"
 s. B. Levy, in a statement made to an Age Herald representative said: My wife and saw MT. Madden in